Science, Tech, Math › Science What Is the Difference Between Osmosis and Diffusion? Share Flipboard Email Print You can use gummy candy to demonstrate how osmosis works. Water travels from an area of high water density through the gelatin to an area of low water density, swelling the candy. Martin Leigh, Getty Images Science Chemistry Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Periodic Table Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate Table of Contents Expand Osmosis and Diffusion Definitions Osmosis and Diffusion Examples Osmosis and Diffusion Similarities Osmosis and Diffusion Differences Table Comparing Diffusion Versus Osmosis Key Points by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Updated January 13, 2019 Students are often asked to explain the similarities and differences between osmosis and diffusion or to compare and contrast the two forms of transport. To answer the question, you need to know the definitions of osmosis and diffusion and really understand what they mean. Osmosis and Diffusion Definitions Osmosis: Osmosis is the movement of solvent particles across a semipermeable membrane from a dilute solution into a concentrated solution. The solvent moves to dilute the concentrated solution and equalize the concentration on both sides of the membrane. Diffusion: Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration. The overall effect is to equalize concentration throughout the medium. Osmosis and Diffusion Examples Examples of Osmosis: Examples of osmosis include red blood cells swelling up when exposed to fresh water and plant root hairs taking up water. To see an easy demonstration of osmosis, soak gummy candies in water. The gel of the candies acts as a semipermeable membrane. Examples of Diffusion: Examples of diffusion include perfume filling a whole room and the movement of small molecules across a cell membrane. One of the simplest demonstrations of diffusion is adding a drop of food coloring to water. Although other transport processes do occur, diffusion is the key player. See more examples of diffusion. Osmosis and Diffusion Similarities Osmosis and diffusion are related processes that display similarities: Both osmosis and diffusion equalize the concentration of two solutions.Both diffusion and osmosis are passive transport processes, which means they do not require any input of extra energy to occur. In both diffusion and osmosis, particles move from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration. Osmosis and Diffusion Differences Diffusion can occur in any mixture, including one that includes a semipermeable membrane, while osmosis always occurs across a semipermeable membrane.When people discuss osmosis in biology, it always refers to the movement of water. In chemistry, it's possible for other solvents to be involved. In biology, this is a difference between the two processes.One big difference between osmosis and diffusion is that both solvent and solute particles are free to move in diffusion, but when we talk about osmosis, only the solvent molecules (water molecules) cross the membrane. This can be confusing to understand because while the solvent particles are moving from higher to lower solvent concentration across the membrane, they are moving from lower to higher solute concentration (from a more dilute solution to a region of more concentrated solution). This occurs naturally because the system seeks balance or equilibrium. If the solute particles can't cross a barrier, the only way to equalize concentration on both sides of the membrane is for the solvent particles to move in. You can consider osmosis to be a special case of diffusion in which diffusion occurs across a semipermeable membrane and only the water or other solvent moves. Table Comparing Diffusion Versus Osmosis Diffusion Osmosis Any type of substance moves from area of highest energy or concentration to region of lowest energy or concentration. Only water or another solvent moves from a region of high energy or concentration to a region of lower energy or concentration. Diffusion can occur in any medium, whether it is liquid, solid, or gas. Osmosis occurs only in a liquid medium. Diffusion does not require a semipermeable membrane. Osmosis requires a semipermeable membrane. The concentration of the diffusion substance equalizes to fill the available space. The concentration of the solvent does not become equal on both sides of the membrane. Hydrostatic pressure and turgor pressure do not normally apply to diffusion. Hydrostatic pressure and turgor pressure oppose osmosis. Diffusion does not depend on solute potential, pressure potential, or water potential. Osmosis depends on solute potential. Diffusion mainly depends on the presence of other particles. Osmosis mainly depends on the number of solute particles dissolved in the solvent. Diffusion is a passive process. Osmosis is a passive process. The movement in diffusion is to equalize concentration (energy) throughout the system. The movement in osmosis seeks to equalize solvent concentration (although it does not achieve this). Key Points Diffusion and osmosis are both passive transport processes that act to equalize the concentration of a solution.In diffusion, particles move from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration until equilibrium is reached. In osmosis, a semipermeable membrane is present, so only the solvent molecules are free to move to equalize concentration. Continue Reading What Osmosis Is and How It Works What Reverse Osmosis Is and How It Works How to Compare and Contrast Active and Passive Transport Do You Know How to Identify a Hypertonic Solution? What Is Diffusion? Chemistry 101: How Do Particles Move in Diffusion? Understand How Osmoregulation Works in Plants, Animals, and Bacteria Understand Osmotic Pressure and Tonicity Learn About Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes Diffusion: Passive Transport and Facilitated Diffusion What Selectively Permeable Means (With Examples) What Are Colligative Properties? Here's What Concentration Means in Chemistry Chemistry Vocabulary Terms You Should Know Find Chemistry Definitions From A to Z Can You Drink Too Much Water?