Re: Does ther term 'osmosis' only apply to water or to all solvents?

Historically osmosis referred exclusively to water solutions.  However, as
newer solvents and types of membranes became available to scientists the
term has expanded and can now be expanded to encompass the movement of any
small molecule through a semi-permeable membrane.  Peter Atkins in his book
“Physical Chemistry” defines osmosis as “the spontaneous passage of pure
solvent into a solution separated from it by a semipermeable membrane, a
membrane permeable to the solvent but not the solute.”

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (online at www.oed.com) osmosis
is derived from “osmose” and was first used by Thomas Graham in 1854 to
describe the movement of water through a membrane.  The unknown force
causing this movement he referred to as the “osmotic force”.  Because
osmosis is of greater concern in biological systems than just about
anywhere else, it is most commonly associated with water.

I hope this helps.