Title: Diffusion & Osmosis Purpose: The purpose of this experiment was to test the tonicity of the different solutions.
Background:
Diffusion and osmosis are both processes that occur within the plasma membrane. Diffusion is the process by which molecules intermingle as a result of kinetic energy. Osmosis is the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane. Tonicity is also related to osmosis.
Tonicity is the ability of an extracellular solution to make water move into or out of the cell by osmosis. A solution’s tonicity is also related to its osmolarity. Hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic are three terms used to compare osmolarity. Hypertonic is when water exits the cell, leaving a higher solute concentration. Hypertonic is when water enters the cell, and
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Record your observations.
• Break the celery stick that was soaked in water. Record your observations.
• Observe the celery stick that was soaked in saltwater. Record your observations.
• Break the celery stick that was soaked in saltwater. Record your observations.
Data:
Analysis: The weight of the dialysis tubing after the experiment is the dependent variable. The independent variables are the different solutions used in the cell water was the constant in this experiment. No improvements or errors were detected during this experiment. Water was the only isotonic cell, while the others either lost or gained water. However, the bags could have been filled more and the timing was off by a minute.
Conclusion:
Each cell proved to be either hypertonic or hypotonic, except for water which proved to be isotonic.
Conclusion 2: Celery The celery in the water was actually hypertonic, because the water exited the celery stick. The celery in the water was actually hypotonic, because lots of water entered it.
References:
• Osmosis and Tonicity Article
• Hyperphysics.phy-aste.gsu.edu
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