What is the difference between diffusion and osmosis?

Osmosis is the movement of solvent particles (usually referring to water) from an area of low concentration (i.e. lots of water particles) to and area of high concentration (i.e. less water particles and more other substances).

Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of high concentration to low concetration. An example is if a gas canister is opened at one end of the room; because of the differences in concentration the particles of gas will diffuse towards the other end of the room.

KM
Answered by Kaat M. Biology tutor

8439 Views

See similar Biology A Level tutors

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

How can two brown-eyed parents produce a blue-eyed offspring?


what factors determine enzyme activity?


What are the key principles of evolution?


Describe how DNA is well-adapted to being a molecule for conserved information storage


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning