What is the difference between diffusion and osmosis?
by 
ray_ray232
ANSWERS: 7
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Osmosis: the movement of water molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. The diffusion process is the spontaneous spreading of matter (particles or molecules), heat, momentum, or light. For more details, consult: http://www.mun.ca/biology/Osmosis_Diffusion/tutor2.html
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Actually diffusion and osmosis occur as tomsims says, the man who previously answered, but in addtion to what he said--- osmosis occurs when a semipermeable membrane [this is a material that lets the solvent molecules (usually water) pass through it but does not let the solute molecules (whatever is dissolved in the solutions) pass through it] is present between two solutions of different concentrations. Example: a semipermeable membrane placed between the glass tubing joing a test tube of a strong sugar solution and a weaker sugar solution (actually pure water could be used instead of the weaker sugar solution). What will happen is more water will accumulate in the test tube of the weaker sugar solution until the two solutions have been diluted to equal strength OR the pressure that occurs on the weaker solution as a result of osmosis equals the pressure resulting from the force of gravity. I hope that this explanation is helpful.
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Diffusion is osmosis that occurs with a substance other than water.
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osmosis can only take place in liquid state but difusion can take place in any state.
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I think KN is right about the liquid part, but I think that osmosis also has to be done through a semipermeable membrane
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Actually in both the phenomenon, movement is occuring in same direction i.e from higher concentration to lower the only difference is, in osmosis only liquids are moving whereas in diffusion either gases or solids are moving........
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Diffusion is the random net movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. Osmosis is the same process, but specifically the movement of water particles ^_^
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