What is diffusion in biology easy definition?

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Diffusion refers to the net movement of molecules from higher to lower concentration. A concentration gradient pertains to the difference of concentration between two areas. Simple diffusion and osmosis is similar in a way that the net movement occurs from higher to lower concentrations.



People also ask, what is diffusion short answer?

Diffusion is a physical process where molecules of a material move from an area of high concentration (where there are many molecules) to an area of low concentration (where there are fewer molecules)until it has reached equilibrium (molecules evenly spread). Diffusion can only work with gases and liquids.

Also, how does diffusion work in biology? Molecules can move into or out of cells by the process of diffusion . Diffusion is the net movement of molecules from an area where they are at a higher concentration to areas where they are at a lower concentration. Diffusion stops when the concentration of the substance is equal in both areas.

Keeping this in consideration, what is diffusion kid definition?

Kids Definition of diffusion 1 : the act of spreading or allowing to spread freely. 2 : the mixing of particles of liquids or gases so that they move from a region of high concentration to one of lower concentration.

What is called diffusion?

Diffusion is the movement of a fluid from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. Diffusion may also be thought of as the movement of particles down a concentration gradient. The term "diffusion" comes from the Latin word diffundere, which means "to spread out."

25 Related Question Answers Found

What is diffusion and examples?

Diffusion Definition. Diffusion is a physical process that refers to the net movement of molecules from a region of high concentration to one of lower concentration. For instance, a gas diffuses very quickly in another gas. An example of this is the way the noxious smell of ammonia gas spreads in air.

What are the 3 types of diffusion?

The three main kinds of passive transport are diffusion,osmosis, and facilitated diffusion. Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration of the molecules to an area with a lower concentration.

What is process of diffusion?

Diffusion is the movement of a substance from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. Diffusion happens in liquids and gases because their particles move randomly from place to place. Diffusion is an important process for living things; it is how substances move in and out of cells.

What is osmosis in biology?

Definition of osmosis. 1 : movement of a solvent (such as water) through a semipermeable membrane (as of a living cell) into a solution of higher solute concentration that tends to equalize the concentrations of solute on the two sides of the membrane.

What is osmosis vs diffusion?


Osmosis: Osmosis is the movement of solvent particles across a semipermeable membrane from a dilute solution into a concentrated solution. 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.

What is mean diffusion?

Diffusion is the act of dispersing something, spreading it out from a central point. When an idea catches on, that's a type of diffusion. In science, diffusion is a physical process of atoms or molecules moving apart within a gas or liquid. You can also use the word diffusion to describe the spreading of information.

Is diffusion active or passive transport?

While active transport requires energy and work, passive transport does not. There are several different types of this easy movement of molecules. It could be as simple as molecules moving freely such as osmosis or diffusion. Since the cell membrane will not allow glucose to cross by diffusion, helpers are needed.

What is Osmosis for kids?

Osmosis is the movement of water through a plasma membrane from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high concentration. An important example of osmosis is the movement of liquid (solvent) molecules across a cell membrane into a cell with a higher solute concentration.

How does simple diffusion work?

Simple diffusion is the process by which solutes are moved along a concentration gradient in a solution or across a semipermeable membrane. If the molecules are small enough, this simple diffusion can happen across cell membranes, between the individual phospholipids that make up the membrane.

Why is diffusion important?


Diffusion is important to organisms because it is the process by which useful molecules enter the body cells and waste products are removed. Digested food molecules (amino acids, glucose) move down a concentration gradient from the intestine to the blood.

What are the different types of diffusion?

The three main types of this phenomenon are expansion diffusion, stimulus diffusion, and relocation diffusion.

Does diffusion require ATP?

Simple diffusion does not require energy: facilitated diffusion requires a source of ATP. Simple diffusion can only move material in the direction of a concentration gradient; facilitated diffusion moves materials with and against a concentration gradient.

Why is plant diffusion important?

Diffusion is the process of movement of matter from high to low concentration area. It is important as it is the underlying process for photosynthesis where CO2 from stomata diffuses into the leaves and then to the cells. On the reverse side, by transpiration the diffusion of water and O2 happens into the environment.

What is another name for passive transport?

Passive transport is a movement of ions and other atomic or molecular substances across cell membranes without need of energy input. The four main kinds of passive transport are simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, filtration, and/or osmosis.

What can affect the rate of diffusion?


Several factors affect the rate of diffusion of a solute including the mass of the solute, the temperature of the environment, the solvent density, and the distance traveled.

What is passive diffusion?

Passive Transport: Diffusion. Passive transport is a naturally occurring phenomenon and does not require the cell to expend energy to accomplish the movement. In passive transport, substances move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration in a process called diffusion.

What is the diffusion of water called?

The diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane is called [ osmosis / diffusion ]. The direction of water movement across the cell membrane depends on the concentration of free water[ molecules / solutions ].