Elaine Pranadjaya

Virtual Osmosis Lab

Erythrocyte, Elodea, and Paramecium
1. Click on the following link:
http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/LS03/LS03.html
2. Follow the procedure in the virtual lab and record your observations
in the table below:
The Nature of Science
Under what conditions do cells gain or lose water?

Solution
Type

Hypotonic
Solution
Isotonic
Solution
Hypertoni
c Solution

Erythrocy
te: Net
Water
Movemen
t In/Out
In

Erythrocy
te:
Appearan
ce of Cell

Type of Cell
Elodea:
Elodea:
Net Water Appearan
Movemen ce of Cell
t In/Out

Swell

In

In and out

Normal

Out

shriveled

Swell

Parameci
um: Net
Water
Movement
In/Out
In

Parameci
um:
Appearan
ce of Cell
Swell

In and out

Normal

In and out

Normal

Out

Cytoplas
m
shriveled

Out

Shrink

3. Answer the following Analysis Questions:

a. Did water move into the cell or out of the cell while it was
surrounded by the hypotonic solution?
Water moved into the cell
b. In which direction did the water move through the cell
membrane when the cell was surrounded by the hypertonic
solution?
Water moved out of the cell
c. Compare and contrast what happens to an animal, a plant, and
a Paramecium cell in a hypotonic, an isotonic, and a hypertonic
solution.
The net movement of water for all the cells are the same in each
hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic solution
d. Could Elodea or Paramecium from a freshwater lake be
expected to survive if transplanted into the ocean? Explain.
The Elodea and Paramecium will not survive if transplanted into the
ocean. The ocean is hypertonic to the cell, therefore the water would

Elaine Pranadjaya

e.

f.

g.

h.

i.

move out of the cell. The cell would dehydrate and eventually kill the
cell.
If you were to grill a steak, would it be better to put salt on it
before or after you cooked it? Explain why, in terms of
osmosis.
It would be better to put salt on the steak after you grill it. The salt is
hypertonic to the steak, therefore the water would leave the steak and
cause it to be dry.
In terms of osmosis, explain the reason for the following:
i. Why salad becomes soggy and wilted when the dressing
has been on it for a while.
The salad dressing is high is solutes, therefore the dressing is
hypertonic to the salad. The cells in the salad will lose water and
will cause the salad to become soggy.
ii. Sprinkling a salt water solution on paths to kill weeds.
The salt water is hypertonic to the weed. The water in the cells
of the weed will leave the cell and it will kill the weeds.
iii. Gargling with salt water will help get rid of a sore throat.
The salt water is hypertonic to the bacteria in the throat.
Because of this, the water in the bacteria will leave, and the
bacteria will shrink/die.
Is ocean water hypertonic or hypotonic to human cells?
Hypertonic
If you were ship wrecked in the Gulf of Mexico could you drink
the ocean water? Explain.
No, because salt water is hypertonic to human cells. Water will leave
from your cells and you will get dehydrated and die.
Is fresh water hypertonic or hypotonic to saltwater fish?
Fresh water is hypotonic to saltwater fish.
Could a salt water fish survive in a fresh water aquarium?
Explain.
A salt water fish would not survive in a fresh water aquarium because
the fish is in a hypotonic solution. Water will move into the cells of the
fish and it would no longer be able to survive.
During strenuous training in the heat, why do professional
athletes drink isotonic fluids, such as PowerAde?
Professional athletes drink isotonic fluids because when they sweat,
water leaves their cells and are now hypertonic to their environment.
Isotonic fluids are actually hypotonic to the cells in their body, and
water will go into the cell, causing them to become isotonic again.