diffuses

Diffuses is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb diffuse. In scientific writing it is used to describe the action of spreading or dispersing, as in the sentence “the solute diffuses across the membrane.”

Diffusion is the net movement of particles from regions of higher concentration to regions of lower concentration, driven by the concentration gradient. At the microscopic level, particles move randomly due to thermal energy, a phenomenon known as Brownian motion. Over time this random motion leads to mixing and even distribution unless impeded by barriers or boundaries.

The rate of diffusion is described by concepts such as the diffusion coefficient and Fick’s laws. Fick’s first law relates the diffusive flux to the concentration gradient, often written in words as the flux moving from high to low concentration with a proportionality factor D, the diffusion coefficient. Temperature, medium viscosity, and the size and interaction of the diffusing species influence D. Fick’s second law describes how concentration changes over time due to diffusion.

There are different modes of diffusion. Simple diffusion involves movement through a medium or membrane without assistance from transport proteins. Facilitated diffusion uses membrane proteins (channels or carriers) to help certain molecules cross membranes, still without energy expenditure, and relies on the existing concentration gradient. In biology, diffusion is crucial for gas exchange, nutrient uptake, and waste removal; in chemistry and materials science, diffusion governs reactions, alloying, and diffusion-controlled processes in solids.

Diffusion can also describe the spreading of substances like perfumes in air or light through translucent materials, where “diffuses” captures the gradual dispersion of particles or waves.