Question

What is diffusion?

Answer 1

Hint: The process is useful in many fields such as in biology, chemistry, etc. Molecules are transferred from one place to another through the process of diffusion. Molecules which move from one place to the other possess kinetic energy.

Complete Solution :
- In the given question we have to explain about the diffusion in brief.
- As we know that the movement of molecules from one region to the other takes place from high concentration to the low concentration due to the unavailability of the more molecules on the lower concentration.
- Or we can also say that the molecules move down the concentration gradient.
- Also, the movement of molecules is necessary so that we can equalise the concentration on both sides of the solution.
- The movement of molecules inside and outside of the cell takes place with the help of diffusion.
- But the process of diffusion is seen only in the liquid and gas molecules.

- Now, diffusion is of two types: Simple and Facilitated diffusion
1. Simple diffusion is a type of diffusion in which the molecules move through a semipermeable membrane (a membrane in which only some molecules are allowed to move from one region to the other). They do not need any transport protein.
- For example, movement of water and oxygen in the cytoplasm of a cell.

2. Facilitated diffusion is a type of diffusion in which the molecules move through the passive process from high concentration to the lower concentration.
- For example, when glucose is transferred from the bloodstream inside the cell.
- Now, there are many factors which affect the rate of diffusion such as:
- Temperature, area of interaction and size of particles.

Note: Passive process is the transport of the molecules without any help of the energy and transport protein whereas the active process is the transport of the molecules with the help of an energy molecule. Dialysis and osmosis are also a type of diffusion.