Observing Osmosis Lab

Delaney Szekely
Erin Schulte
Anatomy and Physiology
Period 3
Due: November 3rd, 2016
11 January 2016
Introductory Paragraph
Diffusion is the process by which particles in a solution spread to reach a uniform distribution of
particles. One of the first scientists credited with the study of diffusion was Thomas Graham, a
British chemist, who tested the diffusion of gases while experimenting with hydrogen and
oxygen. The term osmosis specifically defines the diffusion of water. When observing diffusion
or osmosis, it is import to be aware of the terms, hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic. Defined by
Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology, hypertonic means, excessive, above normal tone,
or tension, isotonic means having uniform tension; of the same tone, and hypertonic means
below normal tones or tensions.
Purpose
The purpose of this experiment is to observe osmosis in an egg whose shell was dissolved and to
identify which of the three liquids is hypertonic, isotonic, and hypertonic based on the passage of
water into, out of, or not all from the egg. Then one needs to use that knowledge to establish the
affect each liquid has on the osmosis of the eggs.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that the corn syrup is a hypertonic solution, the salt solution is an isotonic
solution, and the distilled water is a hypotonic solution.
Materials
The following materials are needed to conduct this experiment:
Vinegar
Distilled water
Corn syrup
Water
Salt
Triple Beam Balance
A Sample Dish
A Large Container
A Permanent Marker
Three Cups
Spoons
A Plate
Paper Towels
Beakers
Observing Osmosis Lab Sheet
Procedure
1. Select three eggs from the vinegar container.
2. Place the eggs on a plate.
3. Carefully, pick up the plate and return to the lab station.
4. Bring the plate of eggs to the assigned sink and gently wash off any remaining shell.
5. Collect the triple beam balance and sample dish.
6. Return to the lab station.
7. Weigh the sample dish and record the weight in the space provided on the chart.
8. Weigh all three eggs and record the weight in the space provided in the chart.
9. Get three cup and a permanent marker and write the partners names, period, and what
solution is in the cup (distilled water, salt solution, or corn syrup).
10. Make the salt solution by adding 500 ml of water to 4.5 grams of salt.
11. Fill the cup labeled with the solution corn syrup 1/3 of the way full with corn syrup.
12. Fill the cup labeled with the solution distilled water 1/3 of the way full with distilled
water.
13. Place Egg A in the cup filled with the salt solution, Egg B in the cup filled with distilled
water, and Egg C in the cup filled with corn syrup.
14. If eggs remained uncovered, add liquid as needed.
15. Make sure all liquids are equal by going eye-level with the cups.
16. Record the time the eggs are fully submerged and set a 30-minute timer.
17. Wait 30 minutes.
18. After 30 minutes, take the mass of the egg and record it in the chart.
19. Move Egg B into the salt solution.
20. Move Egg C into the distilled water.
21. Move Egg A into the corn syrup.
22. Place all three cup in the center of the table.
23. Clean the lab station and return the sample dish and triple beam balance. The
continuation of this lab will be in three days.
24. After three days, return to the lab and get a sample dish and a triple beam balance.
25. Weigh the sample dish and record the mass on the chart.
26. Measure the mass of all three eggs and record in the data chart.
27. Dispose of eggs in the garbage can designated for eggs.
28. Dump the liquids down the drain while running warm water and throw thee cups away.
Analysis
 Egg Mass in Grams
90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Starting Mass After 30 Minutes After 2 Days

Egg A Egg B Egg C Average Mass

Shown in the graph, Egg A started at the mass of 67. 5 grams and after being placed in the salt
solution for 30 minutes, it gained a total of 0.7 grams making the new weight of the egg 68.2
grams, which means according to the definition of osmosis, water enter the egg through the
semipermeable membrane, thus making the salt solution hypotonic; after the three-day soak in
corn syrup Egg A lost a total 37.1 grams which indicates that the corn syrup was a hypertonic
solution. This means that water from inside the semipermeable membrane moved into the corn
syrup. To start the experiment, Egg B was placed in the distilled water and before it was placed
in the solution, the egg weighed 71.4 grams, and after 30 minutes the egg weighed 74.2 grams.
After being placed in the hypotonic solution, the egg was placed in the salt solution. Egg B
gained 6.2 grams, making the totally mass 80.0 grams, which showed that the saline solution was
actually a hypotonic solution. Finally, Egg C which started at a mass of 64.8 grams and after
being placed in the corn syrup the mass decreased by 4.4 grams which further proves that the
corn syrup is a hypertonic solution. After two days in the distilled water Egg C gained 14.3
grams proving that the distilled water is a hypotonic solution. The following graph shows the
relationship between the solutions and the increasing or decreasing mass of the eggs.
 Egg Mass in Grams

Average Mass

After 2 Days

After 30 Minutes

Before Placed in Solutions

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Egg C Egg B Egg A

Conclusion
In conclusion, this lab proved the hypothesis was mostly correct, except for one incorrect
prediction. Through this lab, it was proved that both the distilled water and the salt solution were
hypotonic, which caused water to pass through the semipermeable membrane, resulting in a
weight gain for the egg. This lab also established that the corn syrup was a hypertonic solution,
which meaning that the water can pass from the egg through the semipermeable membrane, from
an area of high concentration to lower concentration. After concluding the experiment and
analyzing the data, the hypothesis was found to be mostly correct. Previous to the experiment, it
was believed that the corn syrup was hypertonic, the saline was isotonic, and the distilled water
was hypotonic. After discussing the lab with the professor, it was discovered that the saline
solution was intended to be isotonic, but because of imprecise measurements, the solution
became hypotonic. If the lab would be conducted a second time, more research would have been
done to insure that the solution would be isotonic. Secondly, more precise measurements would
be made to guarantee that the liquid in all three cups would be equal to provide a more accurate
answer. Even though there were things that could have been done better, throughout the entire
lab, organization was maintained. It made the completion of the lab much more efficient and
fluid. This left more time to confirm the precision of the measurements.
Lab Extension Write-up
To further investigate the process of osmosis, Egg C was placed in a cup filled with Gatorade.
Egg C started at the mass of 74.7 grams. The egg was left to sit in the solution for seven days.
After seven days the mass of the egg was measured; it weighed 80.4 grams. Unfortunately, upon
being set on the scale, the egg burst. Even though the egg broke, it was still able to be measured
and subsequently proven that the Gatorade was a hypotonic solution. More evidence to prove
that the Gatorade was a hypotonic solution was that the semipermeable member was stained red,
the color of the Gatorade. It proved water entered through the membrane. Concluding the
measurement, the egg was pan fried. The eggs were a pink color because of the dye that stained
the semipermeable membrane. To conclude, the Gatorade was a hypotonic solution as shown
through the gain of mass and the dying of the semipermeable membrane.
Works Cited
Marieb, Elaine Nicop. Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology. San Francisco: Benjamin
Cummings, 2003. Page 558. Print.
Wisniak, Jaime. Thomas Graham. II. Contributions to diffusion of gases and liquids, colloids,
dialysis, and osmosis. Educacin Qumica, Volume 24, Universidad Nacional Autnoma de
Mxico, 20 October 2013, Mexico.