Which of the following statements is true about osmosis?

Osmosis is the specific process that involves the movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane. In osmosis, water moves from an area of lower solute concentration (where there is more water relative to solute) to an area of higher solute concentration (where there is less water relative to solute), aiming to equalize solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane. This movement occurs passively, meaning it does not require energy from the cell, and it is driven by the concentration gradient of the solute to which the water is responding.

Osmosis is distinct from diffusion, which involves the movement of solutes, and thus it does not pertain to solute movement. The process inherently focuses on water, making it a key concept in understanding how cells maintain homeostasis and regulate their internal environments.