11/4/2019 Difference Between Osmosis and Diffusion (with Comparison Chart) - Bio Differences

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Di erence Between Osmosis and Di usion

July 5, 2017 By Rachna C — 1 Comment

The fundamental difference between the two is – Osmosis is the movement of the
solvent (water) from a region of higher concentrations to the region of lower
concentration through a semipermeable membrane, to maintain the equilibrium.

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11/4/2019 Difference Between Osmosis and Diffusion (with Comparison Chart) - Bio Differences

On the other hand, diffusion can be described as the movement of the molecules
(solid, liquid or gases) from the region of higher concentration to the region of
lower concentrations, but not through a semipermeable membrane.

Both of this kind are the examples of Passive transportation. It is the natural
process occurring inside the body and thus promotes the movement of the
molecules without a requirement of the energy. The motion can be either through
higher to the lower concentration or from lower to the higher concentration,
and this difference in concentration of the particles is called concentration
gradient.

This process is performed to equalize the concentrations gradient on both the side
of membrane especially in a case of water (solvent). In the following content, we
will be considering the key differences between both kinds of motion, followed by a
brief discussion.

Content: Osmosis Vs Di usion

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

BASIS FOR
OSMOSIS DIFFUSION
COMPARISON
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11/4/2019 Difference Between Osmosis and Diffusion (with Comparison Chart) - Bio Differences

BASIS FOR
OSMOSIS DIFFUSION
COMPARISON

Meaning The movement of liquid The movement of molecules

(solvent) especially water (solid, liquid or gases) from a
from the higher region region of higher concentration
concentration to the region to the lower region
of lower concentration, concentration, but not
through the semipermeable necessarily through a semi-
membrane is called permeable membrane is called
osmosis. diffusion.

Semi-permeable The motion is through the The motion is direct and does
membrane semi-permeable membrane. not require the semi-
permeable membrane.

Medium This process undertakes in This process undertakes in any

the liquid medium. medium (solid, liquid and
gases).

Type of diffusing The movement is basically The movement can be in solid,

molecule of solvent (water). liquid, or gases.

Rate of process Osmosis is a slow process. Diffusion is the fast process.

Free-energy Osmosis is dependent on It is the movement of

one solvent to the another molecules from the area of
for the reduction of free their higher free energy to the
energy. area of the lower free energy.

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11/4/2019 Difference Between Osmosis and Diffusion (with Comparison Chart) - Bio Differences

BASIS FOR
OSMOSIS DIFFUSION
COMPARISON

Importance 1. Osmosis is important in Diffusion is important in

animals for maintaining the animals at the time of creating
water at the cellular level, energy, during respiration it
also in transporting the helps in exchange of gases,
nutrients, cell-cell diffusion. while in plants it is also helpful
2. In plants, it is helpful in in the process of transpiration
maintaining the turgidity, and photosynthesis.
provides mechanical
support, prevents excess
water loss, and responsible
for absorption of water from
the soil.

De nition of Osmosis
The function of osmosis is to maintain the equilibrium on both the side of the
membrane and so in this process there is the only movement of the water molecule,
also called as the solvent.

In order to keep the homeostasis the water molecule move sidelong from higher
water concentration to the region of lower water concentration. And also
from the lower solute concentration to the higher solute concentration. Notably,

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11/4/2019 Difference Between Osmosis and Diffusion (with Comparison Chart) - Bio Differences

the water molecules are passed through a semi-permeable membrane. So we

can say that osmosis is a special kind of diffusion.

Osmosis is important in the distribution of nutrients and in a release of the

metabolic waste from the body, and in maintaining the concentration gradient
inside and outside the cell.

In plants osmosis is helpful in absorbing water from the soil, it helps in

maintaining water level, even at the time of loss of water, cell to cell diffusion, also
provide mechanical support.

Factors a ecting osmosis are:

Diffusion distance
Concentration gradient.
Temperature.

Osmotic pressure

It can be defined as the pressure exerted on the solution, to prevent the passage of
the solvent into the solution, where both are separated by a semipermeable
membrane.

Hypotonic Solution – Solution with relatively low pressure and high solvent
concentration, here cells absorbs water, swell, and burst.

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Hypertonic Solution – Solution with relatively higher osmotic pressure and

high solute concentrations, here cells shrivel due to loss of water.

Isotonic Solution – Solution with equal osmotic pressure (iso-osmotic) and the
concentration of solute and solvent are at level, so the cell tone is maintained and
thus no changes in cell volume and shape.

Types of Osmosis are:

1. Reverse Osmosis.
2. Forward Osmosis.

Application of Osmosis
1. Transfusion – used in hospitals for the treatment of burns, dehydration, etc.
2. Fluid balance and blood volume – The fluid is balanced of each cell of the body
due to the osmosis.
3. Edema due to hypoalbuminemia – Edema occurs due to the lower oncotic
pressure of plasma, resulting in accumulation of fluid in tissue spaces.
4. Red blood cells and fragility – It prevent from rupturing the plasma membrane
of the RBC, the condition called as hemolysis.

De nition of Di usion
The movements of molecules like solid, gases or liquid, from the region of higher
concentration to the region of lower concentration. The reason for this movement
is the randomly moving molecules present in high concentration possess free
energy, and when they move to the region of lower concentration, equilibrium of
diffusing molecule along with the benefit of free energy is achieved. There is no
role semi-permeable membrane.

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Thus diffusion is important in creating energy, at the time of respiration it

helps in exchange of gases in animals, it is also helpful in the process of
transpiration and photosynthesis in plants.

Example: If a drop of blue ink is put in the jar filled with water, the ink will get
evenly distributed all over the water, and the particles will get distributed
everywhere, this is the simplest example of diffusion.

Another example to explain the diffusion is of any spray like deodorants, perfumes,
so when they are used or opened, the molecules of gas get distributed equally at a
certain available space.

Factors a ecting di usion are:

Molecular weight – Larger the molecular weight, slower will be the
movement of the molecules.
Concentration gradient – Higher the difference, higher the rate of the motion
of molecules
Pressure – Higher the pressure, lower will be the rate of diffusion due to the
increase in the number of a collision.

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Temperature – Higher the temperature, higher will be the motion of the

particles.

Types of di usion are:

1. Surface diffusion.
2. Collective diffusion.
3. Electron diffusion.
4. Facilitated diffusion.
5. Brownian diffusion.
6. Effusion.
7. Gaseous diffusion.
8. Photon diffusion.
9. Self-diffusion.
10. Reverse diffusion.
11. Momentum diffusion.
12. Knudsen diffusion.

Application of Di usion
1. Few nutrients are absorbed in gastrointestinal tract through diffusion only, like
minerals, vitamins, pentoses.
2. Exchange of gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide in lungs and tissues occurs
through diffusion only.
3. Passage of waste products in the renal tubules occurs due to diffusion.

Key Di erences Between Osmosis and Di usion

Following are the substantial difference between the osmosis and diffusion:

1. Osmosis is the movement of liquid (solvent) especially water from the

higher region concentration to the lower region concentration, through
the semi-permeable membrane. Diffusion can be defined as the
movement of molecules (solid, liquid or gases) from a region of higher
concentration to the region of lower concentration, but not necessarily
through a semi-permeable membrane is called diffusion.

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2. The motion of molecules is through the semi-permeable

membrane in osmosis, whereas in diffusion motion is direct and
does not require a semi-permeable membrane.

3. Osmosis undertakes in liquid medium only, whereas the process of

diffusion undertakes in any medium (solid, liquid and gases).

4. Water is only the diffusing molecule in osmosis; On the other hand,

the movement can be in solid, liquid, or gases in the process of
diffusion.

5. Osmosis is a slow process and diffusion is the fast process.

6. Osmosis is dependent on one solvent to the another for the reduction

of free energy, whereas in the case of diffusion the movement of
molecules is from the area of their higher free energy to the area
of the lower free energy.

7. The process of osmosis is important in animals in maintaining the

water at the cellular level, in transporting the nutrients, cell-cell
diffusion. In plants, it is helpful in the maintenance of the turgidity,
provides mechanical support, prevents excess water loss, and
responsible for absorption of water from the soil. Whereas the process
of diffusion is important in animals at the time of creating energy,
during respiration it helps in exchange of gases, while in plants it is
also helpful in the process of transpiration and photosynthesis.

Conclusion
So in general terms, we can say that the intermingling of the molecules, for
maintaining the equilibrium is the naturally occurring process in the body, and are
termed as osmosis and diffusion. Though this physical process is sometimes
confusing also. But has a significant value in the field of science.

In order maintain the homeostasis of the body and also to balance between the
various internal mechanisms through internal cellular functioning, these concepts
are regularly compared and discussed. And so we can say that in the osmosis
process only water molecule can show the motion across the semi-permeable
membrane and in the diffusion liquids and gases can move.

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