What is the difference between osmosis and diffusion?

Question

Question 2 options:

Diffusion uses energy, but osmosis does not.

Osmosis is movement of proteins, and diffusion is movement of water.

Osmosis is a kind of diffusion that involves movement of water.

Diffusion only occurs in animal cells, and osmosis only occurs in plant cells.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

Osmosis is a kind of diffusion that involves movement of water.

Explanation:

• Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, resulting in a net movement of particles until they are evenly distributed.
• Osmosis is a specific type of diffusion that specifically refers to the movement of water molecules through a selectively permeable membrane, from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:

• Diffusion uses energy, but osmosis does not: Both diffusion and osmosis are passive processes and do not require energy.
• Osmosis is movement of proteins, and diffusion is movement of water: This is incorrect; osmosis specifically refers to water movement.
• Diffusion only occurs in animal cells, and osmosis only occurs in plant cells: Both diffusion and osmosis occur in various cell types, including both plant and animal cells.