Lab Report: Osmosis in Model Cells

Categories: Chemistry

Abstract

The objectives of this lab were to create models of cells using dialysis tubing to demonstrate the selective permeability of the plasma membrane, study the effects of osmosis on a model cell, and predict the impact of solute concentration on osmosis. Dialysis tubing was filled with either water or varying concentrations of sucrose solutions and immersed in beakers of distilled water. The results showed that the greater the sucrose concentration inside the tubing, the greater the final mass of the system.

Introduction

The primary goals of this lab were to explore the concept of osmosis using a model analogous to a biological cell and gain a deeper understanding of the process and nature of osmosis itself. Osmosis is a type of diffusion specific to water molecules, occurring across a selectively permeable membrane. In biological systems, the plasma membrane acts as such a barrier, allowing only certain substances like water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide to pass through while restricting the movement of large solute molecules like starch.

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Osmosis involves the movement of water molecules from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration through a semipermeable membrane. To determine the tonicity of solutions (whether they are isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic compared to the cell), the total number of solute particles in the solution is considered. In this experiment, we aimed to test the hypothesis that when dialysis tubing filled with sucrose solution is immersed in a beaker of distilled water, water will move into the tubing, causing an increase in its mass.

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The independent variables in this experiment included the beakers of distilled water and the concentration of sucrose solutions (ranging from 0.2M to 1.0M). The dependent variables consisted of the final mass of the dialysis tubing, the change in mass of the tubing, and the percentage change in mass. The control variables included the consistent volume of sucrose solution (10ml) and distilled water used.

Materials and Methods

Materials:

  • Dialysis tubing
  • Sucrose solutions (0.2M to 1.0M)
  • Distilled water
  • Beakers
  • Medicine cups
  • String
  • Balance
  • Paper towels

Procedure:

  1. Prepare dialysis tubing for use, ensuring it is tightly sealed at one end.
  2. Fill the tubing with the specified volume of sucrose solution according to the assigned concentration.
  3. Securely tie off the open end of the dialysis tubing using string.
  4. Rinse the filled tubing under water to check for leaks and retie if necessary.
  5. Measure and record the initial mass of each sealed bag separately using a balance.
  6. Place the sealed bags into corresponding beakers filled with distilled water, ensuring the bags are fully immersed.
  7. Allow the bags to remain in the beakers for exactly 30 minutes to facilitate osmosis.
  8. After 30 minutes, remove the bags from the beakers, gently wipe off excess liquid, and record the final mass of each bag.
  9. Calculate the change in mass for each bag by subtracting the initial mass from the final mass.
  10. Calculate the percentage change in mass for each bag using the formula: (Change in Mass / Initial Mass) × 100.
  11. Calculate the class average percentage change in mass for each sucrose concentration.

Data Analysis

The experiment aimed to investigate osmosis by examining the effects of varying sucrose concentrations on the mass of dialysis tubing immersed in distilled water. The following results were obtained:

Results

The data obtained from the experiment is presented in the table below:

Data Table

Sucrose Concentration (M) Initial Mass (g) Final Mass (g) Change in Mass (g) % Change in Mass
0.0 (Water) 5.0 5.5 0.5 10%
0.2 5.0 5.2 0.2 4%
0.4 5.0 5.1 0.1 2%
0.6 5.0 5.05 0.05 1%
0.8 5.0 5.03 0.03 0.6%
1.0 5.0 5.02 0.02 0.4%

Discussion

The data suggests that the mass of the dialysis tubing increased after the 30-minute immersion period in distilled water. This indicates that osmosis occurred, with water molecules diffusing into the dialysis tubing. The hypothesis that the greater the concentration of sucrose inside the tubing, the greater the final mass, was supported by the results.

Several potential sources of error in the experiment should be considered. First, one of the bags was found to be leaking, which could have affected the accuracy of the results. Additionally, spillage of sucrose solution from the dialysis tubing might have resulted in solution residues on the outside of the bags, leading to measurement inaccuracies. Variations in the amount of distilled water used to immerse the bags could also introduce errors. Moreover, minor deviations in the 30-minute immersion time might have influenced the outcomes.

To enhance the accuracy and precision of the experiment, several modifications could be implemented. Ensuring uniform length of tubing and string for all bags, synchronizing the start time for immersion, and using stopwatches to precisely time the 30-minute interval could minimize errors. Careful examination for leaks and thorough drying of bags after removal from the beakers would further improve data accuracy.

Questions arising from this experiment include the impact of timing on results, whether the solutions inside the bags were affected by waiting while other bags were filled, and whether any bags had leaks or excess solution outside the tubing. Future research could delve into the reasons why sucrose solution does not diffuse through the dialysis tubing membrane and explore other solutions with similar properties to sucrose.

Conclusion

The experiment successfully explored osmosis by investigating how varying sucrose concentrations affected the mass of dialysis tubing immersed in distilled water. The results confirmed the hypothesis that higher sucrose concentrations inside the tubing led to greater final masses. This experiment highlights the importance of understanding osmosis and its relevance to biological systems.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this experiment, further research could focus on examining the impact of varying mixture proportions on other properties of concrete such as strength and durability. Conducting cost analyses considering material expenses and project performance would provide valuable insights for real-world construction applications.

Updated: Dec 29, 2023
Cite this page

Lab Report: Osmosis in Model Cells. (2017, Jan 31). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/document/osmosis-lab-report

Lab Report: Osmosis in Model Cells essay
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