Question

the majority of water molecules moving across plasma membranes by osmosis do so via a process that is most similar to ______. view available hint(s) simple diffusion active transport cotransport facilitated diffusion a process that requires energy from the cell submit

Explanation:

Osmosis is the movement of water across a semi - permeable membrane (like the plasma membrane) from an area of high water concentration (low solute concentration) to an area of low water concentration (high solute concentration), down its concentration gradient, and it does not require energy. Simple diffusion is also the movement of molecules (or in the case of osmosis, water molecules) from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration, down their concentration gradient, and does not require energy or a carrier protein. Active transport, cotransport, and the process that requires energy from the cell all need energy input, which is different from osmosis. Facilitated diffusion requires a carrier protein, while osmosis (for the majority of water movement across the plasma membrane, through aquaporins it can be like facilitated diffusion, but the question says "the majority" and the most similar in terms of the basic principle of moving down the concentration gradient without energy and without a carrier in the simple sense) is most similar to simple diffusion in terms of the passive, down - concentration - gradient movement without energy expenditure.

Answer:

simple diffusion