What makes osmosis a special kind of diffusion

Aug 5, Explanation: Semipermeable membrane is the membrane that allows only water through pass through and not the solute. Related questions How does polarity of molecules affect diffusion? How does diffusion differ from endocytosis and exocytosis? How does diffusion affect homeostasis? How are diffusion and osmosis different? How is diffusion involved in osmosis?

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What are some examples of diffusion? How is a concentration gradient related to the process of diffusion? This spread of particles through random motion from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration is known as diffusion.

This unequal distribution of molecules is called a concentration gradient. Once the molecules become uniformly distributed, dynamic equilibrium exists. The equilibrium is said to be dynamic because molecules continue to move, but despite this change, there is no net change in concentration over time. Both living and nonliving systems experience the process of diffusion.

In living systems, diffusion is responsible for the movement of a large number of substances, such as gases and small uncharged molecules, into and out of cells.

Osmosis is a specific type of diffusion; it is the passage of water from a region of high water concentration through a semi-permeable membrane to a region of low water concentration. Semi-permeable membranes are very thin layers of material which allow some things to pass through them, but prevent other things from passing through.

Cell membranes are an example of semi-permeable membranes. Cell membranes allow small molecules such as oxygen, water carbon dioxide and glucose to pass through, but do not allow larger molecules like sucrose, proteins and starch to enter the cell directly. Example : If there was a semi-permeable membrane with more water molecules on one side as there were on the other, water molecules would flow from the side with a high concentration of water to the side with the lower concentration of water.

This would continue until the concentration of water on both sides of the membrane were equal dynamic equilibrium is established. Osmotic Pressure Adding sugars to water will result in a decrease in the water concentration because the sugar molecules displace the water molecules. If the two containers are connected, but separated by a semi-permeable membrane, water molecules would flow from the area of high water concentration the solution that does not contain any sugar to the area of lower water concentration the solution that contains sugar.

This movement of water would continue until the water concentration on both sides of the membrane is equal, and will result in a change in volume of the two sides. The side that contains sugar will end up with a larger volume. Water solutions are very important in biology.

When water is mixed with other molecules this mixture is called a solution. Water is the solvent and the dissolved substance is the solute. A solution is characterized by the solute. For example, water and sugar would be characterized as a sugar solution. The classic example used to demonstrate osmosis and osmotic pressure is to immerse red blood cells into sugar solutions of various concentrations. There are three possible relationships that cells can encounter when placed into a sugar solution.

The concentration of solute in the solution can be equal to the concentration of solute in cells. A red blood cell will retain its normal shape in this environment as the amount of water entering the cell is the same as the amount leaving the cell.