Osmosis and Diffusion

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

Front

What is diffusion?

Back

Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration until equilibrium is reached.

Front

What is active transport?

Back

Active transport is the process of moving molecules across a cell membrane from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration, requiring energy.

Front

What is a selectively permeable membrane?

Back

A selectively permeable membrane is a barrier that allows certain substances to pass through while blocking others.

Front

What happens when equilibrium is reached in diffusion?

Back

When equilibrium is reached, molecules continue to move in both directions across the membrane, but the overall concentration remains constant.

Front

What role does the cell membrane play in osmosis and diffusion?

Back

The cell membrane regulates the movement of materials into and out of the cell, facilitating osmosis and diffusion.

Front

What is the difference between osmosis and diffusion?

Back

Osmosis specifically refers to the movement of water, while diffusion refers to the movement of any type of particles.

Front

What is the significance of concentration gradients in diffusion?

Back

Concentration gradients drive diffusion, as particles move from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration.

Front

What is facilitated diffusion?

Back

Facilitated diffusion is the process of passive transport of molecules across a membrane via specific transmembrane integral proteins.

Front

Why do molecules move during diffusion?

Back

Molecules move during diffusion because they are constantly in motion and tend to spread out to occupy available space.