Diffusion:
Diffusion is the movement of particles from the area of highest concentration to the lowest concentration.
It is a passive process.
- Any kind of substance goes from the higher energy or concentration zone to the lower energy zone.
- Diffusion can occur in any medium (solid, liquid or gaseous).
- A semi-permeable membrane is not necessary for its diffusion.
- Diffusion is not based on pressure potential, solute potential.
- Diffusion mostly depends on the presence of different particles.
Osmosis:
Osmosis is the movement of solvent particles over a semi-penetrable membrane into a concentrated solution from a dilute solution.
- Osmosis is also a passive process.
- Only water or any other solvent circulates from the zone of high concentration to the zone of low concentration.
- Osmosis only occurs in the liquid medium.
- A semi-permeable membrane is necessary for osmosis.
- Osmosis depends on the potential of the solute.
- Osmosis is highly dependent on the number of solute particles that dissolve in the solvent.