What process describes the movement of water from a lower to a higher concentration?

The movement of water from a region of lower solute concentration to a region of higher solute concentration is specifically referred to as osmosis. This process is critical in biological systems, particularly in maintaining cell turgor and overall fluid balance within organisms.

Osmosis occurs across a semi-permeable membrane that allows water molecules to pass through while restricting solute molecules. During osmosis, water molecules naturally move toward the area where there are more solute particles (higher concentration) in order to equalize the concentration on both sides of the membrane. This means that even though it may seem counterintuitive, water moves towards the area of higher concentration of solutes because it is effectively diluting that area.

This process is vital for many physiological functions, such as the absorption of water in the kidneys, nutrient absorption in the intestines, and the balance of fluids in tissues throughout the body. Understanding osmosis is essential in fields like medicine and health sciences, especially when dealing with conditions related to fluid imbalance.

The other processes listed do not describe the same mechanism. Active transport, for example, involves the movement of ions or molecules against their concentration gradient and requires energy, while diffusion pertains to the movement of substances from a region of higher concentration to