Diffusion and osmosis are the two types of passive transport process through which matter is transported from the region of higher concentration to the region of lower concentration. Both processes do not require any external energy for transport. As osmosis and diffusion work on very similar phenomena, they can be distinguished by the material they transport and their dependence. In other words, we can also say that osmosis is one of the types of diffusion. In the diffusion process, any substance, whether in a liquid, solid or gaseous state, moves from the region of higher concentration to the region of lower concentration.On the other hand, in the osmosis process, water or any other solvent travels from the region of highest concentration to the region of lowest concentration through the semipermeable membrane.

Comparative chart

What is broadcasting?

It is the passive transport process in which any type of material, whether solid, liquid or gas, moves from the region of higher concentration to the region of lower concentration independently of the semi-permeable membrane. The diffusion process does not depend on the presence of a semipermeable membrane or the solute potential in the mixture. Since diffusion can occur in all states of matter, it depends on the presence of other particles and tends to equalize the area by filling the empty spaces. For example, when we open a bottle of perfume or any other fragrance, after a while the smell spreads throughout the room, this is due to the diffusion process. In living organisms, diffusion also plays a fundamental role in the different processes of life.

What is osmosis?

It is the passive transport process in which the water or any other solvent within the mixture moves from the region of higher concentration to the region of lower concentration through the semi-permeable membrane. The process is only for liquids, although when we talk about osmosis in liquids it is mainly about water, although when we study the osmosis process from a chemical perspective, the transport can be of other solvents within the mixtures or solution. The osmosis process takes place through the semi-permeable membrane and is also dependent on the solute potential in the solution as the water moves into the solution that has high solute concentration and low solvent concentration. In life, the osmosis process takes place when water molecules move from one cell to another. Generally, in animals, the osmosis process participates in the distribution of nutrients and the release of metabolic waste products. In plants, the passage of water through the soil and the roots of the plant occurs through the process of osmosis.

Diffusion versus osmosis

• The osmosis process is done through the semi-permeable membrane, on the other hand, the diffusion process does not require a semi-permeable.
• Diffusion is the process for all three states of matter (solid, liquid, gas), while the osmosis process only takes place in liquids.
• Diffusion does not depend on the solute potential of the mixture, whereas osmosis depends on the solute potential of the mixture.