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Diffusion

Table of Contents

What is Diffusion?

Types of Diffusion

Factors affecting Diffusion

Examples of Diffusion

Causes of Diffusion

Significance of Diffusion

Diffusion Definition

“Diffusion is the movement of molecules from a region of

higher concentration to a region of lower concentration
down the concentration gradient.”

Read on to explore what is diffusion and the different types of

diffusion.

What is Diffusion?
Diffusion is the process of movement of molecules under a
concentration gradient. It is an important process occurring in all
living beings. Diffusion helps in the movement of substances in and
out of the cells. The molecules move from a region of higher
concentration to a region of lower concentration until the
concentration becomes equal throughout.

Liquid and gases undergo diffusion as the molecules are able to

move randomly.

Example:

Take water in a beaker. Add a few copper sulfate crystals in one

place and leave it as it is for some time without disturbing it. After
some time we can see that the beaker contains a uniformly
coloured solution. Here, both water and copper sulfate diffuse
independently. With this experiment, we can infer that solutes move
from a higher concentration to a lower concentration in a solution.

Also Read: Diffusion in Plants

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Types of Diffusion
Diffusion is widely used in various fields such as biology, physics,
chemistry, etc. Diffusion can be classified into two main types:
Simple diffusion and facilitated diffusion.

Simple diffusion
A process in which the substance moves through a
semipermeable membrane or in a solution without any help from
transport proteins. For example, bacteria deliver small nutrients,
water and oxygen into the cytoplasm through simple diffusion.

Facilitated diffusion

Facilitated diffusion is a passive movement of molecules across the

cell membrane from the region of higher concentration to the
region of lower concentration by means of a carrier molecule.

Dialysis: It is the diffusion of solutes across a selectively permeable

membrane. A selectively permeable membrane is one that allows
only specific ions and molecules to pass through, while it obstructs
the movement of others.

Osmosis: It is the movement of solvent molecules from the region

of lower concentration to the region of higher concentration
through a semipermeable membrane. Since water is solvent in
every living being, biologists define osmosis as the diffusion of
water across a selectively permeable membrane. For example,
plants take water and minerals from roots with the help of osmosis.

Also Read: Facilitated Diffusion

Factors affecting Diffusion

There are a few factors that affect the process of diffusion,
which individually and collectively alters the rate and extent of
diffusion. These factors include:

Temperature.

Area of Interaction.

Size of the Particle.

The steepness of the concentration gradient.

Examples of Diffusion
A tea bag immersed in a cup of hot water will diffuse into the
water and change its colour.

A spray of perfume or room freshener will get diffused into the

air by which we can sense the odour.

Sugar gets dissolved evenly and sweetens the water without

having to stir it.

As we light the incense stick, its smoke gets diffused into the
air and spreads throughout the room.

By adding boiling water to the dried noodles, the water

diffuses causing rehydration and making dried noodles
plumper and saturated.

Causes of Diffusion
Diffusion is a natural and physical process, which happens on its
own, without stirring or shaking the solutions. Liquid and gases
undergo diffusion as the molecules are able to move randomly. The
molecules collide with each other and change their direction.

Significance of Diffusion
Diffusion is an important process, which is involved in the different
life processes. As mentioned above, it is the net movement of
particles, ions, molecules, solution, etc. In all living species, diffusion
plays an important role in the movement of the molecules during
the metabolic process in the cells.

Diffusion is important for the following reasons:

During the process of respiration, this process helps

in diffusing the carbon dioxide gas out through the cell
membrane into the blood.

Diffusion also occurs in plant cells. In all green plants, water

present in the soil diffuses into plants through their root hair
cells.

The movement of ions across the neurons that generates

electrical charge is due to diffusion.

Also Read: Difference between diffusion and osmosis

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1 1. What is diffusion?

Diffusion is the movement of molecules from a region of higher

concentration to a region of lower concentration down the
concentration gradient.

Q2 2. List the types of diffusion.

Diffusion can be divided into two main types, namely, simple

diffusion and facilitated diffusion.

Q3 3. What is simple diffusion?

Simple diffusion is defined as the process in which a substance

moves through a semipermeable membrane or in a solution
without any help from transport proteins.

Q4 4. State an example of simple diffusion.

In a cell, water, oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules can pass

directly through the cell membrane without requiring any
energy along the concentration gradient. This is a form of
simple diffusion.

Q5 5. What is facilitated diffusion?

Facilitated diffusion can be defined as the passive movement

of molecules across the cell membrane from a region of higher
concentration to a region of lower concentration by means of
a carrier molecule.

Q6 6. Provide an example of facilitated diffusion.

In the human body, glucose molecules, sodium and potassium

ions use carrier proteins to pass through the cell membranes.

Q7 7. How does dialysis work?

Dialysis works through the diffusion of solutes across a

selectively permeable membrane. A selectively permeable
membrane is the one that allows only specific ions and
molecules to pass through while obstructing the movement of
other molecules.

Q8 8. What are the factors affecting diffusion?

Temperature, area of interaction, size of the particle and the

steepness of the concentration gradient are all factors that
affect the process of diffusion.

Q9 9. State the significance of diffusion.

Diffusion is a very important process occurring in all living

beings. All living organisms exhibit one or the other form of
diffusion, allowing the movement of the molecules during
various metabolic or cellular processes.

Learn more about diffusion, its definition, types examples, and other
related topics at BYJU’S Biology