Difference between plasma membrane and cell wall
Plasma membrane
It is the outermost covering of the cell that
separates the content of the cell from the external
environment
It lies inside the cell wall(if present)
It is present in animals ,plants ,fungi and bacteria
cells.
It is made up of organic material called lipids and
proteins
It is flexible
It allows or permits the entry and exit of some
material in and out of the cell.
For example in the exchange of CO2 between the
cell and the environment
Difference between osmosis and diffusion
Diffusion
It is the spontaneous movement of molecules from
a region of high concentration to a region of low
concentration.
It does not require a semi permeable membrane
It can occur in both air and liquid medium
It depends on the kinetic energy of the molecules
of diffusing substance only.
For example in exchange of gases and water in the
life of a cell
Cell Wall
Plant cells, in addition to the cell membrane have
another rigid outer covering called the cell wall.
It lies outside the plasma membrane
It is present in only plants, fungi and certain
bacteria cells.
It is made up of cellulose which provides structural
strength
It is rigid
It protects and maintains the internal environment
of the cell
For example it permits the cells to withstand very
dilute solutions(hypotonic) without bursting
Osmosis
It is the movement of solvent molecules for a
region of high concentration to a region of low
concentration through a semi permeable
membrane.
It requires a semi permeable membrane
It can occur only in liquid medium
Though it is the diffusion of solvent molecules
only, yet it is influenced by the presence of solutes
in the system.
For example absorption of water by plant roots