Can facilitated diffusion be both active and passive?
I think it can as both FD and AT use carrier proteins idk i might be wrong.
Thanks in advance
No, facilitated diffusion uses both carrier proteins AND protein channels, however, they require no energy at all as they go from a high concentration to a low one. Active transport ONLY uses carrier proteins, and requires energy because it goes from a low concentration to a high one.
I think were you're confused is 'oh how come two processes can use carrier proteins'?
Well, active transport and facilitated diffusion use them. There is only one different, if a substance is going down its concentration gradient, then it's facilitated. If the substance is going against it's concentration gradient, then it's active.
Hope it helped