Mindy Wu

Period 2
February 17, 2008

Lab 1- Osmosis and Diffusion Abstract

In this lab three different experiments were performed. For experiment 1A, the
purpose of the experiment was to determine the direction of diffusion of small molecules.
In exercise 1B, the purpose of the experiment was to determine the relationship between
solute concentration and the movement of water through a membrane by osmosis. In the
final part of the experiment, the purpose was to determine the water potential of potato
cells.
Experiment 1A was performed as a class. In experiment one 1A, the solution with
15% glucose and 1 % starch was tested for the presence of glucose. This solution was
then place in the bag and after tying off the ends of the bag the color of the solution was
recorded. Also, a 250 ml beaker was filled with distilled and 4 ml of Lugol’s solution was
added to the distilled water. The color was again recorded and the solution was also tested
for glucose and the result was recorded. Following that, the bag was placed in the beaker
and after 30 minutes the finally color of the solution in the bag and beaker were recorded.
Then both were tested for the glucose again. The result was that the bag initially tested
positive for glucose. However a second test was not taken. The beaker did not test
positive for glucose initially. Again the beaker was also not tested a second time. The
color of the bag was originally colorless and then it became an orange color. The beaker
originally was an orange color, but then after 30 minutes was more colorless. In the
second experiment, 6 dialysis tubes were created and each was filled with 15 ml of
different solutions. The first dialysis tube was filled with distilled water, the second with
0.2 M sucrose, the third with 0.4 M sucrose, the fourth with 0.6 M sucrose, the first with
0.8 M sucrose, and the sixth with 1.0 M sucrose. The initial mass of each bag was then
found and recorded in grams. After the initial mass was recorded, each bag was placed
into an empty 250 ml beaker and each beaker was filled two third full with distilled
water. They were then left to sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes each bag was removed
and then the mass of each bag was determined again. These masses were again recorded
and then the mass difference and percent change in mass was calculated out. Our results
showed a 4.52 % mass difference in the dialysis bag with distilled water, a 4.61 %
difference in the dialysis bag with 0.2 M sucrose, a 9.47% difference in the bag with 0.4
M sucrose, a 6.20 % difference in the bag with 0.6 M sucrose, a 15.40 % difference in the
bag with 0.8 M sucrose, and a 18.11% difference in the bag with 1.0 M sucrose. In the
final experiment, or exercise 1C, four cylinders or potatoes were cut out using a cork
borer. The mass of the four cylinders was recorded and then placed into the beaker. The
beaker was filled with distilled water and a plastic wrap was placed over the beaker to
prevent evaporation. The potatoes were left submerged in the beaker over night. The next
day the cores were removed from the beakers and the mass was again determined. Our
initial mass was 3.73 grams. The final mass was 4.31 grams. The mass difference was .61
grams and the percent change in mass was 16.35%.
This experiment is useful because it shows which direction substances will flow
or diffuse. The way in which substance flow is important because it allows our bodies to
function properly. For example, in the body the protein albumin regulates blood volume
by maintaining the osmotic pressure of the blood compartment.