What process describes the movement of water from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration through a semipermeable membrane?

The movement of water from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration through a semipermeable membrane is specifically described by osmosis. Osmosis is a passive process that involves the movement of water molecules, allowing them to cross the semipermeable membrane while preventing the passage of solutes. This movement occurs in response to the concentration gradient of water, seeking to balance the concentrations on both sides of the membrane.

In contrast, diffusion refers to the movement of particles or solutes from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration, not specifically water, and does not necessarily involve a semipermeable membrane. Filtration involves the separation of particles from a fluid based on size, typically pushed or driven by pressure differences and does not focus on concentration gradients. Active transport, on the other hand, requires energy to move substances against their concentration gradient, which is not how osmosis operates. Thus, osmosis is the precise term that describes this specific passive movement of water molecules through a semipermeable membrane according to concentration gradients.