Osmosis Concentration Gradient Lab Report

Nicholas J. Lippold
Honors Biology: Period 4
Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic
April 30, 2018

Introduction:
Throughout the Honors Biology classes of Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, a lab simulation

of cell osmosis was performed. This cell’s membrane was represented using dialysis tubing that

is considered to be selectively permeable. The words “selectively permeable,” according to

Dictionary.com, is when a “the movement of ions or molecules across a cellular membrane from

a lower to a higher concentration” (Active Transport, n.d.). The use of selectively permeable

transport in the dialysis tubing allows for osmosis to occur. Osmosis is the term used to describe

when water is moved in the cell. The lab was performed based on the idea of how permeable the

dialysis tubing would be to water mixed with other materials, and in the lab, sugar and iodine.

Osmosis is used within our bodies as a form of moving water into and out of our cells, providing
 Osmosis Concentration Gradient Lab Report

a vital resource for living cells. Certain cells need certain environments of water in order to

maintain water balance. The cells within the experiment also reach a certain point where

everything is equal, or equilibrium. This lab was set up to test if the mass of the dialysis tubing

would change, in different types of environments, depending on sugar concentration, and other

factors in the first part. The first part was set up with five beakers. Each beaker contained two-

hundred milliliters of water. Four of those beakers were filled with water, and the last was filled

with sixty percent sugar content. There are six dialysis tubes, each filled with different sugar

contents. There are two filled with five milliliters of water, one with twenty percent sugar

content, one with forty percent sugar, one with sixty percent sugar content, and one with eighty

percent sugar content. Before placing into water, measure the weight on the scale, and place into

appropriate waters. The water, twenty percent, forty percent, and sixty percent were each placed

into their own water beaker. The last water dialysis tube, and the eighty percent sugar content

dialysis tube was placed into sixty percent sugar content. After each three-minute interval, the

simulated cells were taken out and weighed. In part one, the independent variable is the amount

of sugar content, and the dependent is the weight of each simulated cell. The constants within

part one is the simulated cells, and the scales used to measure mass. If each cell is placed in

water with different sugar content levels, then sixty percent will increase the most weight. Part

two contained dialysis tubing containing starch solution and water. Each tube was placed into a

beaker with twenty drops of iodine. Leave the simulated cells in for fifteen minutes and record

the color before and after the test. The independent variable of part two is the iodine, and the

dependent variable is the colors of dialysis bags or beakers. If the iodine is present with starch,

then iodine will pass through the simulated cell.

Materials:
 Osmosis Concentration Gradient Lab Report

• 6 beakers capable of holding more than 200 mL of water

• Scale for measuring weight in grams

• Dialysis tubing

• Water

• Different forms of sugar solutions (20%, 40%, 60% and 80%)

• Paper towels for drying simulated cell

• Another beaker for iodine and water

• Starch solution Procedure:

Within part one, the students tie the dialysis tubing, and add the appropriate amount of water,

or eighty percent sugar solution. From here, put them upon the scales and record the grams

measured by the scale. Next, fill the beakers with two hundred milliliters, and one beaker with

sixty percent sugar solution. Then, place the appropriate simulated cells in their assigned

beakers. This includes water in water, twenty percent sugar solution in water, forty percent in

water, sixty percent in water, and water with eighty percent in sixty percent sugar solution. Every

three minutes take out the simulated cells at the same time, dry and weigh them. Record the

results. In part two, fill beakers with two hundred milliliters of water and twenty drops of iodine.

Within the dialysis tubing, fill it with water and starch solution. Record the colors of the tubing

and the beaker. Then place tubing inside beaker and wait fifteen minutes. Finally record the

color.

Results:

Within the results shown below, the table shows the different averages between group gave

data and was taken the average of to find the results.

 Osmosis Concentration Gradient Lab Report

Table 1: Averages of the Grams in the Water over Time (Part 1)

Water in Water 20% in Water 40% in Water 60% in water Water in 60% 80% in 60%

0-3 Minutes 0.208333333 0.316666667 0.408333333 0.566666667 -0.15 0.24166667

3-6 Minutes 0.083333333 0.216666667 0.391666667 0.441666667 -0.383333333 0.075

6-9 Minutes -0.041666667 0.166666667 0.308333333 0.4 -0.25 0.08333333

Within this table, all elements had a common theme of slowing down when reaching a mass
that can be assumed to be equilibrium. Dictionary.com describes this as the “state of rest or
balance due to the equal action of opposing forces” (equilibrium, n./d.).

1.5

0.5

This graph shows the relation between time, and the amount the tubing weighed.
Discussion:

Certain cells within the first experiment, gain or loose mass to come closer to equilibrium.

The cells do this to prevent explosion or shriveling up. Just as when you get closer to

equilibrium, the cell’s absorption rate is lowered so it can even out at that point of equilibrium.
 Osmosis Concentration Gradient Lab Report

This allows for fluctuations as well. At the point where “the lower the concentration of the solute

within a solvent, the faster osmosis will occur in that solvent” (A Complete Guide to Osmosis,

n./d.). This means the lower concentrations will have a higher rate of osmosis. With this, it will

allow water to pass through the cell at a faster speed. The dialysis tubing is permeable to water,

and iodine. Within the second experiment, the concentration is lower because there is less to

transfer because of the iodine. The National Center for Biotechnological Information says “water

moves across them by osmosis from a solution of lower solute concentration to one of higher

solute concentration” (Osmosis, Water Channels, and the Regulation of Cell Volume, n./d.).

With this we understand that the eighty percent in sixty percent had a less absorption rate

because it has less to absorb. It is still a similarity of difference, but in the case of eighty percent,

it is only twenty percent of water to be able to transfer in or out of the cell. Within this

experiment, however, there is possible error, including unpurified water, unbalanced waters,

errors in time, difference in water within the tubing and outside. The water used was just from

the tap and could be slightly different. The students can also have errors in times.

References

A COMPLETE RESOURCE GUIDE ON OSMOSIS. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.freedrinkingwater.com/resource-a-complete-resource-guide-to-osmosis.htm

Active transport. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/active-transport?s=t

Equilibrium. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/equilibrium?s=t

Lodish, H. (1970, January 01). Osmosis, Water Channels, and the Regulation of Cell Volume.

Retrieved April 30, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21739/

Osmosis Concentration Gradient Lab Report