Osmosis and Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane 1

Osmosis and Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane

Emily Paul
Honors Biology – Period 5
Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School
30 April 2018
 Osmosis and Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane 2

Introduction

Osmosis and diffusion are two completely different types of cell transport that are often

misunderstood or confused. In this lab, osmosis and diffusion take place, both are types of

passive transport. Passive transport is the movement of a high concentration to a low

concentration that moves with or along the concentration gradient and does not require any extra

energy or ATP (Biggs, et al., 2012). The cell membrane is selectively permeable meaning that

only certain ions, molecules, etc. can pass through the phospholipid bilayer (Biggs, et al., 2012).

Osmosis is the movement of water from a high concentration to a low concentration across a cell

membrane. (Britannica, 2017)

There are three different types of environments or solutions that cells are placed into

where osmosis takes place: a hypotonic environment, an isotonic environment, and a hypertonic

environment (David H. Nguyen, 2018). A hypotonic environment is when there is a higher

concentration of pure water outside of the cell than the inside of the cell, causing water to

quickly rush into the cell. There is a possibility that the cell could burst, but that does not always

happen. An isotonic environment is where the concentration of pure water inside and outside of

the cell is equal, it is in equilibrium. This environment is the ideal environment of a cell.

Although it is in equilibrium, water is constantly moving in and out of the cell because of

aquaporins. Aquaporins are small channels in the cell membrane that are selectively permeable

to water and are always open. A hypertonic environment is when there is a higher concentration

of pure water inside of the cell than the outside of the cell, causing water to quickly rush out of

the cell. There is a possibility that the cell can shrivel up and vanish, but that does not always

happen. (Biggs, et al., 2012) It is important to understand osmosis because it explains the

importance of drinking water and staying hydrated. Too much or too little of water could
 Osmosis and Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane 3

possibly harm or even kill a human being. If someone drinks excessive amounts water in a short

amount of time, their cells will be placed into a hypotonic environment and could explode,

causing severe red blood cell loss and damage. If someone does not drink enough water, their

cells will be placed into a hypertonic environment and could shrivel up and become nonexistent.

For example, when someone becomes severely dehydrated, hospitals inject a saline solution into

the blood stream. They inject a salt water solution because if they would inject a pure water

solution, it would place the dehydrated cells into a hypotonic environment, which would cause

the cells to explode. On the other hand, plant cells are meant to be placed into a hypotonic

environment. The force that water exerts on the plant cell wall is called Turgor pressure. If

Turgor pressure in the cells of a plant is high, the overall plant will be physically firmer and

healthier. If the Turgor pressure in the cells of a plant is low, the overall plant will be physically

soft and wilted. (Biggs, et al., 2012)

Dialysis tubing is a type of semi-permeable membrane used in experiments as a

simulated cell membrane. There are several purposes for completing and analyzing this lab. One

purpose would be to see the different effects of osmosis in the different osmotic environments.

Another would be to see how the rate of osmosis differs with different concentration gradients. A

third purpose would be to remodel the cell membrane of a cell. Lastly, a purpose would be to see

what the dialysis tubing is permeable to. In the experiment, five beakers are set up for part I and

one beaker for part II. In part I, Beaker 1 represents a simulated cell in an isotonic environment.

Beakers 2, 3, and 4 represent simulated cells in hypotonic environments with different

concentration gradients. Beaker 5 represents two simulated cells, one in a hypertonic

environment – the simulated cell with water inside and 60% glucose in the beaker – and the other

in a hypotonic environment – the simulated cell with 80% glucose solution inside and 60%
 Osmosis and Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane 4

glucose solution in the beaker. The beaker in part II represents a simulated cell in a hypotonic

environment.

For part I, the independent variable is the type of osmotic solution or environment and the

dependent variable is the mass change. For part II, the independent variable is the location of the

starch – which is inside the cell – and the dependent variable is the color change. The constants

for part I include the temperature of the solution, the starting amount of the solution that is

placed inside the simulated cell (5 mL), the starting amount of solution that is placed in the

beaker (200 mL), the type of dialysis tubing, the type of string, the amount of time that the

simulated cell is placed into a solution, the folding and tying method of the dialysis tubing,

making sure the simulated cell is dry before weighing it, and the method of drying the simulated

cells. The constants for part II include the temperature of the water, the amount of iodine (20

drops), the amount of starch (half a spoonful) inside the dialysis tubing, the amount of water

(5mL) inside the dialysis tubing, the amount of water in the beaker, the amount of time that the

simulated cell is placed into the water-iodine solution and making sure the simulated cell is

completely cleaned and dried before placing it into the water-iodine solution. The control group

for part I is beaker 1 with water inside the simulated cell and in the beaker. The experimental

groups for part I are beakers 2, 3, 4, and 5 with the different glucose solutions inside the

simulated cells and water in the beakers. The control group for part II is the original setup – with

yellow water in the beaker and white starch inside the cell. The experimental group for part II is

the setup afterwards – with clear water in the beaker and dark purple or black color inside the

simulated cell. For part I, there are six hypothesizes: If a simulated cell with 5mL of water inside

the dialysis tubing is placed into a beaker with 200mL of water, then the mass of the simulated

cell will stay roughly the same. If a simulated cell with 5mL of 20% glucose solution inside the
 Osmosis and Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane 5

dialysis tubing is placed into a beaker with 200mL of water, then the mass of the simulated cell

will increase. If a simulated cell with 5mL of 40% glucose solution inside the dialysis tubing is

placed into a beaker with 200mL of water, then the mass of the simulated cell will increase. If a

simulated cell with 5mL of 60% glucose solution inside the dialysis tubing is placed into a

beaker with 200mL of water, then the mass of the simulated cell will increase. If a simulated cell

with 5mL of water inside the dialysis tubing is placed into a beaker with 200mL of a 60%

glucose solution, then the mass of the simulated cell will decrease. If a simulated cell with 5mL

of 80% glucose solution inside the dialysis tubing is placed into a beaker with 200mL of a 60%

glucose solution, then the mass of the simulated cell will increase. The hypothesis for part II is:

If a simulated cell with a spoonful of starch and 5mL of water inside the dialysis tubing is placed

into a beaker with a water-iodine solution, then the inside of the simulated cell will turn dark

purple after 15 minutes.

Materials

Part I: Part II:

 200mL clear beaker (x5)  200mL clear beaker

 20% glucose solution  Pure water solution

 40% glucose solution  Dialysis Tubing

 60% glucose solution  String

 80% glucose solution  Paper towels

 Pure water solution  Iodine

 Dialysis tubing  Potato Starch

 String  10mL graduated cylinder

 Osmosis and Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane 6

 Electronic balance  Plastic spoon

 Paper towels  Pipette

 Stopwatch

 Pipette (x5)

 10mL graduated cylinder (x5)

Procedures

Part I:

1. Obtain five 200mL clear beakers and fill four of them with 200mL of pure water. Fill the

fifth beaker with 200mL of the 60% glucose solution.

2. Obtain six pieces of dialysis tubing (that had been previously soaked in water) and twelve

pieces of string.

3. Fold one end of the dialysis tubing horizontally, then vertically, then horizontally again.

Once one end of the dialysis tubing is folded, tie it tightly with one piece of string.

4. Fill the first dialysis tubing with 5mL of pure water. Repeat the folding process from step

3 on the other end of the dialysis tubing so that the solution inside the simulated cell will

be secure.

5. Rise off the simulated cell. To dry it, lay out a paper towel and place the simulated cell on

top of it. Fold the paper towel on top if the simulated cell and gently roll it across the

paper towel to dry.

6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 for 5mL of 20% glucose solution, 5mL of 40% glucose solution,

5mL of 60% glucose solution, another 5mL of pure water, and 5mL of 80% glucose

solution.
 Osmosis and Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane 7

7. Weigh the initial mass of each simulated cell and record the data.

8. Once all simulated cells are weighed, place one pure water simulated cell in front if

beaker 1, the 20% glucose solution simulated cell in front of beaker 2, the 40% glucose

solution simulated cell in front of beaker 3, 60% glucose solution simulated cell in front

of beaker 4, the 80% glucose solution simulated cell in front of beaker 5, and the other

pure water simulated cell in front of beaker 5 as well.

9. Place all simulated cells into their assigned beakers at the exact same time. Leave them in

their beakers for exactly three minutes.

10. After three minutes, take all simulated cells out of their beakers. Weigh each simulated

cell again and record the data.

11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 two more times.

Part II:

1. Obtain a 200mL clear beaker and fill it up with about 150mL of pure water.

2. Obtain one piece of dialysis tubing (that had been previously soaked in water). Fold one

end of the dialysis tubing horizontally, then vertically, then horizontally again. Once one

end of the dialysis tubing is folded, tie it tightly with one piece of string.

3. Fill the dialysis tubing with half a spoonful of potato starch and 5mL of pure water.

Repeat the folding process from step 3 on the other end of the dialysis tubing so that the

solution inside the simulated cell will be secure.

4. Rise off the simulated cell thoroughly. To dry it, lay out a paper towel and place the

simulated cell on top of it. Fold the paper towel on top if the simulated cell and gently

roll it across the paper towel to dry.

 Osmosis and Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane 8

5. Place 20 drops of iodine into the 200mL clear beaker filled with water. Mix the water and

iodine together.

6. Record the colors inside the beaker and inside the simulated cell before.

7. Place the simulated cell into the beaker with the water and iodine for 15 minutes.

8. Record the colors inside the beaker and inside the simulated cell after.

Procedures refer to the Diffusion Through Cell Membranes lab packet.

Results

In part I, each simulated cell either gained or lost mass, or stayed relatively the same.

Initially, no simulated cell gained or lost any mass. After 3 minutes, the water in water simulated

cell gained 208mg with a total mass of 208mg; the 20% in water simulated cell gained 317mg

with a total mass of 317mg; the 40% in water simulated cell gained 408mg with a total mass of

408mg; the 60% in water simulated cell gained 567mg with a total mass of 567mg; the water in

60% simulated cell lost 150mg with a total loss of 150mg; and the 80% in 60% simulated cell

gained 241mg with a total mass of 241mg. After 6 minutes, the water in water simulated cell

gained 83mg with a total mass of 291mg; the 20% in water simulated cell gained 217mg with a

total mass of 534mg; the 40% in water simulated cell gained 382mg with a total mass of 800mg;

the 60% in water simulated cell gained 442mg with a total mass of 1009mg; the water in 60%

simulated cell lost 383mg with a total loss of 533mg; and the 80% in 60% simulated cell gained

75mL with a total mass of 316mg. After 9 minutes, the water in water simulated cell lost 42mg

with a total mass of 249mg; the 20% in water simulated cell gained 167mg with a total mass of

701mg; the 40% in water simulated cell gained 308mg with a total mass of 1108mg; the 60% in

water simulated cell gained 400mg with a total mass of 1409mg; the water in 60% simulated cell
 Osmosis and Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane 9

lost 250mg with a total loss of 783mg; and the 80% in 60% simulated cell gained 83mg with a

total mass of 399mg. The table and figure below show and represent these results.

Table 1: Change in Mass (mg) Over Time (minutes)

Time Water in 20% in 40% in 60% in Water in 80% in 60%
Water Water Water Water 60%
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 208 (+208) 317 (+317) 408 (+408) 567 (+567) -150 (-150) 241 (+241)
6 291 (+83) 534 (+217) 800 (+392) 1009 (+442) -533 (-383) 316 (+75)
9 249 (-42) 701 (+167) 1108 (+308) 1409 (+400) -783 (-250) 399 (+83)
Table 1 shows the change in mass – in milligrams – of each simulated cell over zero, three, six,
and nine minutes in three-minute intervals. Column 1 shows the amount of time in minutes that
the simulated cells were put into their assigned beakers. Column 2 shows the mass gain or loss
(in parenthesis) and the total mass of the simulated cell with water inside the dialysis tubing and
water in the beaker after zero, three, six, and nine minutes. Column 3 shows the mass gain or loss
(in parenthesis) and the total mass of the simulated cell with 20% glucose solution inside the
dialysis tubing and water in the beaker after zero, three, six, and nine minutes. Column 4 shows
the mass gain or loss (in parenthesis) and the total mass of the simulated cell with 40% glucose
solution inside the dialysis tubing and water in the beaker after zero, three, six, and nine minutes.
Column 5 shows the mass gain or loss (in parenthesis) and the total mass of the simulated cell
with 60% glucose solution inside the dialysis tubing and water in the beaker after zero, three, six,
and nine minutes. Column 6 shows the mass gain or loss (in parenthesis) and the total mass of
the simulated cell with water inside the dialysis tubing and 60% glucose solution in the beaker
after zero, three, six, and nine minutes. Column 7 shows the mass gain or loss (in parenthesis)
and the total mass of the simulated cell with 80% glucose solution inside the dialysis tubing and
60% glucose solution in the beaker after zero, three, six, and nine minutes.

Mass vs Time
2000

1500
Water in Water
1000 20% in Water
Mass (mg)

500 40% in Water

0 60% in Water
0 3 6 9 Water in 60%
-500
80% in 60%
-1000
Time (minutes)

Figure1: The Change in Mass vs Time During Osmosis

Description: Figure 1 shows the data from Table 1 as their total mass changes over zero, three,
six, and nine minutes. Series 1 shows the rough neutrality in mass of the water in water
simulated cell. Series 2 shows the increase in mass of the 20% glucose solution in water
 Osmosis and Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane 10

simulated cell. Series 3 shows the increase in mass of the 40% glucose solution in water
simulated cell. Series 4 shows the increase in mass of the 60% glucose solution in water
simulated cell. Series 5 shows the decrease in mass of the water in 60% glucose solution
simulated cell. Lastly, series 6 shows the increase in mass of the 80% glucose solution in 60%
glucose solution simulated cell.

In part II, the color of the liquid in the beaker was yellow and the color of the solution

inside the simulated cell was white. After the fifteen-minute time period, the color of the liquid

in the beaker had turned clear and the color of the solution inside the simulated cell had turned a

dark purple or black.

Discussion

The simulated cells in part I gained or lost mass due to the osmotic environment or

solution that they were put into. The simulated cell with water inside the dialysis tubing and

water in the beaker increased and decreased in mass because it was put into an isotonic

environment. The concentration of pure water was equal inside and outside the dialysis tubing

causing equilibrium to occur. Although, because aquaporins are always open and do not control

the flow of water through the cell membrane, the simulated cell both increased and decreased in

mass, but not by much. The simulated cell with 20% glucose solution inside the dialysis tubing

and water in the beaker increased in mass because it was put into a hypotonic environment. The

concentration of pure water was higher outside the cell than the inside of the cell causing water

to rush into the cell. This high concentration to low concentration flow increased the mass of the

simulated cell. The simulated cell with 40% glucose solution inside the dialysis tubing and water

in the beaker increased in mass because it was put into a hypotonic environment. The

concentration of pure water was higher outside the cell than the inside of the cell causing water

to rush into the cell. This high concentration to low concentration flow increased the mass of the
 Osmosis and Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane 11

simulated cell. The simulated cell with 60% glucose solution inside the dialysis tubing and water

in the beaker increased in mass because it was put into a hypotonic environment. The

concentration of pure water was higher outside the cell than the inside of the cell causing water

to rush into the cell. This high concentration to low concentration flow increased the mass of the

simulated cell. The simulated cell with water inside the dialysis tubing and 60% glucose solution

in the beaker decreased in mass because it was put into a hypertonic environment. The

concentration of pure water was higher inside the cell than the outside of the cell causing water

to rush out of the cell. This high concentration to low concentration flow decreased the mass of

the simulated cell. The simulated cell with 80% glucose solution inside the dialysis tubing and

60% glucose solution in the beaker increased in mass because it was put into a hypotonic

environment. The concentration of pure water was higher outside the cell than the inside of the

cell causing water to rush into the cell. This high concentration to low concentration flow

increased the mass of the simulated cell.

Overall, the rate of osmosis slows down as the concentration of the inside and outside of

the cell becomes closer to equilibrium. Also, when there is a higher concentration gradient, the

rate of osmosis is higher as well. When there is a lower concentration gradient, the rate of

osmosis is lower as well. The 80% glucose solution simulated cell in the 60% glucose solution

did not increase as much in mass as the 20% glucose solution simulated cell in water because

there is a higher concentration of pure water in pure water than in a 60% glucose solution. There

is going to be a higher flow of water if there is a higher concentration of pure water.

In part II, the color inside of the simulated cell turned from white to dark purple. This is

because the iodine and starch came into contact. When starch and iodine come in contact with

one another it turns dark purple. This generates the conclusion that the iodine moved through the
 Osmosis and Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane 12

dialysis tubing and into the simulated cell. The iodine moved into the simulated cell because

there was a higher concentration of pure water outside the simulated cell than the inside, making

the cell in a hypotonic environment. This caused the water and iodine solution to move into the

simulated cell. Thus, concluding that the dialysis tubing is permeable to iodine. If the dialysis

tubing was permeable to starch, the liquid in the beaker would have been foggy, not clear.

One source of error includes not letting the simulated cells sit in their assigned beakers

long enough. Another would be that the amount of solution inside the dialysis tubing could be

inconsistent. Also, since the average was taken, one data set could have messed up the entire

spread of data. Lastly, drying the simulated cells could have not taken place or have been

inconsistent causing the masses of the simulated cells to be fluctuated. One thing that could have

changed in the lab to make it better would be to not rush through it and taken more time to

perform the experiment. This would include putting the simulated cells into their beakers for

more than three minutes at a time.

 Osmosis and Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane 13

References

Biggs, A., Hagins, W. C., Holliday, W. G., Kapicka, C. L., Lundren, L., MacKenzie, A. H., . . .

Zike, D. (2012). Biology. Columbus: McGraw-Hill.

Britannica, T. E. (2017, September 19). Osmosis. Retrieved from Encyclopaedia Britannica:

https://www.britannica.com/science/osmosis

David H. Nguyen, P. (2018). What Are the Two AMin Types of Diffusion & Osmosis. Retrieved

from Education-Seattle PI: http://education.seattlepi.com/two-main-types-diffusion-

osmosis-4270.html

Diffusion Through Cell Membranes. (2018).