Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 1

Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis

Lizzie Ochs
Honors Biology, Period 4
Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School
April 30, 2018
 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 2

Introduction:

There are two types of cell transport, active transport, and passive transport. For a cell to

use passive transport means that the cell is moving from high to low concentration and it is

moving with the concentration gradient, until it reaches equilibrium. This also means that the cell

requires no ATP, or extra energy from the cell to perform its functions. Active transport requires

ATP, and moves against the concentration gradient, from low to high concentration. (Biggs, et

al., 2012) For a cell to be called selectively permeable means that it is always permeable to water

meaning water can always pass through with the help of aquaporins. But, the cell is also semi

permeable because it lets certain things in at certain times by choice. (Biggs, et al., 2012)

Osmosis is the movement of water from high to low concentrations across the plasma

membrane. There are three types of osmotic solutions know as hypotonic, isotonic, and

hypertonic environments. (Le Bach Pham, Sarah Malburg 2013). A hypotonic environment is

when there is a high concentration of water outside the cell and a low concentration of pure

water inside the cell. This causes the water to move into the cell. This movement of water into

the cell can cause cytolysis, the bursting of your red blood cells. (Biggs, et al., 2012) This relates

to real world situations because of something called hazing, that can happen in college. One form

of hazing that is quite dangerous to your body is drinking gallons of water at a time. When you

drink all of this water, you are placing your cells into a hypotonic environment, causing your

cells to burst. This can be extremely harmful, and it even causes death. An isotonic environment

is when the cell is in equilibrium. This means there is an equal amount of solutes and water

inside and outside of the cell. An example of this is our red blood cells right now that should be

in an isotonic environment. (Biggs, et al., 2012) A hypertonic environment it when there is high

concentration of water inside the cell and a low concentration of water outside the cell. This
 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 3

causes the water to rush out of the cell. This causes the cell to shrivel. (Biggs, et al., 2012) An

example of this would be when turgor pressure decreases. This happens in plant cells when they

are placed into a hypertonic environment. Plants do not like this osmotic environment. Another

example of this environment would be plasmolysis. This is what happens when a plant is in a

hypertonic environment and it wilts.

Dialysis tubing is tubing that can be opened when soaked in water. In this experiment it is

used to represent a cell membrane. It will have the same functions as a cell membrane would.

This means the dialysis tubing is accurate in helping to represent the movement of substances

across the cell membrane. (Le Bach Pham, Sarah Malburg 2013) The major purposes of this lab

are to help students understand osmosis showing a simulated permeable membrane using dialysis

tubing, to see the effects of osmosis in an isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic environment, to

then see the mass change of the simulated cells, and to see what else the dialysis tubing

(simulated cell membrane) is permeable to.

For the setup of the lab, there are 4 beakers that contain 200 mL of pure water, and there

is one beaker that contains 200 mL of an 60% glucose solution. In set-up 1 there is a simulated

cell filled with 5mL of water placed into 200mL of water. In set-up 2 there is a simulated cell

filled with 5 mL of a 20% glucose solution placed into 200 mL of water. In set-up 3 there is a

simulated cell filled with 5mL of 40% glucose placed into a beaker filled with 200 mL of water.

In set-up 4 there is a simulated cell filled with 5mL of 60% glucose placed into a beaker with

200mL of water. In set-up 5 there is a simulated cell filled with 5mL of water placed into a

beaker with 200mL of 60% glucose. And finally, in set-up 6 there is a simulated cell with 5 mL

of 80% glucose solution placed into a beaker with 200mL of 60% glucose. (Diffusion Through

Cell Membrane Lab Guide, 2018)

 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 4

The dependent variable for part one was the mass of the simulated cell. The independent

variable for part one was the amount of glucose or what type of osmotic environment the cell is

placed into. The dependent variable for part two was the color change. The independent variable

for part two was the placement of the starch. Some constants for part one would be the amount of

solution in the simulated cell (5mL), the solution amount for each beaker (200mL), how the

dialysis tubing is tied, the same dialysis tubing is used, same string is used, how the simulated

cells are timed, drying the cells off before you weigh them, and how you dry the simulated cells.

Some constants for part two would be amount of iodine (20 drops), half a spoonful of starch,

washing the simulated cell thoroughly before putting it in the solution, and the amount of water

in the beaker. The control group for part one is set up one, water in water. The experimental

group for part one is the other five beakers. The control group for part two is the original set up

with yellow water and white starch in the simulated cell. The experimental group for part two is

the after, with clear water and dark purple/black color inside the simulated cell. (Diffusion

Through Cell Membrane Lab Guide, 2018)

My hypotheses for part one would be as follows. If you place the simulated cell with

water in the beaker with water, then the mass of the simulated cell will stay the same because it

is being placed into an isotonic environment. If you place the simulated cell with 20% glucose

into a beaker filled with water, then the mass of the simulated cell will increase because the cell

is being placed into a hypotonic environment, and water will rush into the cell. This is because

there is a higher concentration of water outside the cell. If you place the simulated cell with 40%

glucose into a beaker filled with water, then the mass of the simulated cell will increase because

the cell is once again being placed into a hypotonic environment, where water rushes into the

cell. If you place the simulated cell with 60% glucose into a beaker of water, then the mass of the
 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 5

simulated cell will decrease because the cell is being put into a hypertonic environment, where

water rushes out of the cell because there is a higher concentration of water inside the cell. If you

place a simulated cell with pure water into a 60% glucose solution, then the mass of the

simulated cell will decrease because the water will be placed into a hypertonic environment and

water will rush out of the cell. If you place a simulated cell filled with 80% glucose into a

solution of 60% glucose, then the mass of the simulated cell will increase because the cell is

being placed into a hypotonic environment, causing water to rush into the cell. This happens

because there is a higher concentration of water inside the cell and the cell is trying to reach a

state of equilibrium. My hypothesis for part 2 would be, if you place a simulated cell filled with a

spoonful of starch into a beaker of water and dropped in 20 drops of iodine, then the simulated

cell will be permeable to the iodine and the inside of the cell will turn a blue/dark purple color.

This happens because the simulated cell (cell membrane) is permeable to the iodine, but not

permeable to the starch.

Materials

Part 1

- Dialysis tubing

- 20% glucose solution

- 40% glucose solution

- 60% glucose solution

- 80% glucose solution

- Pure water solution

- 200 mL clear beaker (x5)

- Electronic balance
 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 6

- Paper towels

- Stopwatch

- String

- Pipette (x5)

- 10 mL graduated cylinder

Part 2

- 200 mL clear beaker

- Pure water solution

- Dialysis tubing

- String

- Paper towels

- Iodine

- Potato starch

- 10mL graduated cylinder

- Plastic spoon

- Pipette (x5)

Procedure

Part I: Effect of Concentration on Rate of Diffusion

1. Gather all materials.

2. Take 6 pieces of dialysis tubing that have been soaking in water.

3. Take the tubing out of the water and fold the tubing down approximately an inch, then

over, then across again.

 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 7

4. Tie the first end of the dialysis tubing with string in a tight knot making sure it does not

come untied. Cut the excess string.

5. Repeat this folding and tying process with all 6 of the dialysis tubes.

6. Get 5 clear beakers and fill each of them with 200mL of the correct solution. Fill 4 of the

beakers with water, and 2 with 60% starch solution.

7. Fill each of the 6 dialysis tubes with 5 mL of solution. Fill two with pure water, one with

20% glucose, one with 40% glucose solution, one with 60% glucose solution, and another

with 80% glucose solution.

8. Now, tie the other end of each of the dialysis tubes, using the same folding and tying

process as before.

9. Get 6 paper towels and label the paper towels according to the type of solution that is in

each dialysis tubing. Place each dialysis tubing on the paper towel that is labeled for it.

10. Weigh each simulated cell with an electronic balance and record the weight in grams.

11. Make sure to remember which simulated cell is filled with which solution.

12. Make sure to place each simulated cell into the proper solution at the same time. Place

the simulated cells filled with water, 20% solution, 40% solution, 60% solution into

separate beakers of pure water. Place the second simulated cell filled with pure water into

the 60% glucose solution. Finally, place the simulated cell filled with 80% solution into

the beaker with 60% glucose solution. (80% cell and pure water cell will be in same

beaker).

13. Leave the simulated cells in the solutions for 3 minutes.

14. Take the cells out of the solutions and lightly dry them on a paper towel.

15. Record the weight of the simulated cell after the three minutes in the solution in grams.
 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 8

16. Place the cells into their same solutions for another three minutes (3-6 minutes).

17. Repeat steps 11-12.

18. Place the cells into their same solutions for another three minutes (6-9).

19. Repeat steps 11-12.

Part 2:

1. Gather all materials.

2. Get a pre-soaked dialysis tubing and tie one end using this procedure: Fold down about

an inch, fold over, and then fold down again.

3. Tie the first end of the dialysis tubing with tightly with string. Tie many knots to make

sure that the simulated cell does not come untied.

4. Cut the excess string.

5. Fill the simulated cell with about a half spoon full of potato starch.

6. Add roughly 5 milliliters of pure water to the simulate cell that already has potato starch

in it.

7. Shake the simulated cell to mix the water and starch.

8. Tie the other end of the dialysis tubing using the same method mentioned before.

9. Wash the simulated cell in the sink with pure water, being sure that there is no potato

starch on the outside of the simulated cell.

10. Pat dry the cell using a paper towel.

11. Fill a beaker roughly half full with pure water.

12. Place the simulated cell into the beaker.

13. Place 20 drops of iodine into the beaker with the simulated cell.
 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 9

14. Record the initial color of the simulated cell and the initial color of the solution in the

beaker.

15. Take the simulated cell out of the beaker after 15 minutes.

16. Observe what has happened to the starch and iodine as well as color change of simulated

cell and beaker, and record observations.

All procedure information was found in Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane Packet.

Results

In set up 1, which was a simulated cell filled with 5mL of water placed into a beaker

filled with 200mL of pure water. There was an average mass change of +208.3mg from 0-3

minutes. Then the average mass change from 3-6 minutes was +83.3mg. Then the average mass

change from 6-9 minutes was -41.6mg. The data shows that the mass sometimes slightly

increased and slightly decreased. In figure one below, you can see the chart fluctuates slightly

from 0,3,6, and 9 minutes. Refer to figure one. In set up 2, which was a simulated cell filled with

5mL of 20% glucose solution placed into a beaker filled with 200mL of pure water. There was

an average mass change of +316.6mg from 0-3 minutes. Then the average mass change from 3-6

minutes was +216.6mg. Then the average mass change from 6-9 minutes was +166.6mg. The

data shows that the mass change earlier in time was greater, than as time went on decreased. But,

there was always an increase in mass. Refer to figure one. In set up 3, which was a simulated cell

filled with 5mL of 40% glucose placed into a beaker filled with 200mL of pure water. There was

an average mass change of +408.3 from 0-3 minutes. Then the average mass change from 3-6

minutes was +391.6mg. Then the average mass change from 6-9 minutes was +308.3mg. The

data shows that the mass change earlier in time was greater, then as time went on decreases. But,
 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 10

there was always an increase in mass. Refer to figure one. In set up 4, which was a simulated cell

filled with 5mL of 60% glucose placed into a beaker filled with 200mL of pure water. There was

an average mass change of +566.6mg from 0-3 minutes. Then the average mass change from 3-6

minutes was +441.6mg. Then the average mass change from 6-9 minutes was +400mg. The data

shows that the mass change earlier in time was greater, than as time went on decreased. But,

there was always an increase in mass. Refer to figure one. In set up 5, which was a simulated cell

filled with 5mL of pure water placed into a beaker filled with 200mL of 60% glucose solution.

There was an average mass change of -150mg from 0-3 minutes. Then the average mass change

from 3-6 minutes was -383.3mg. Then the average mass change from 6-9 minutes was -250mg.

The data shows that for this set up, there was a loss of mass at 3,6, and 9 minutes, but the most

loss of mass was from 3-6 minutes. Refer to figure one. In set up 6, which was a simulated cell

filled with 5mL of 80% glucose solution placed into a beaker filled with 200mL of 60% glucose

solution. There was an average mass change of +241.6mg from 0-3 minutes. Then the average

mass change from 3-6 minutes was +75mg. Then the average mass change from 6-9 minutes was

+83.3mg. That data shows that there was an increase in mass at 3,6, and 9 minutes, but the

highest increase in mass was from 0-3 minutes. This data was used to calculate the masses at 0,

3, 6, and 9 minutes in the table below

 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 11

Table 1: Change in Mass of Simulated Cells in Milligrams in different solutions

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

Time Water Water Water Water 60% 60%

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

3 208 317 408 567 -150 241

6 291 534 800 1009 -533 316

9 249 701 1108 1409 -783 399

Description: This is the average change in mass for all of the simulated cells, taken from many

different classes. Since each simulated cell started with a different mass, the mass changes were

averaged from 0-3 minutes, 3-6 minutes, and 6-9 minutes. If you are showing a table or graph

with mass verses time, then you need a mass at 0 minutes, 3 minutes, 6 minutes, and 9 minutes.

In order to get consistent data, the starting masses of the simulated cells have to be 0 milligrams.

The masses of the cells at 3 minutes are the changes in mass from 0-3 minutes. The mass of the

cells at 6 minutes was calculated by taking the mass change from 3-6 minutes and adding it to

the mass at 3 minutes. The mass of the cells at 9 minutes was calculated by taking the mass

change from 6-9 minutes and adding it to the mass at 6 minutes.

 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 12

Mass in Miligrams vs. Time in Minutes

2000

1500
40% in Water
1000 Water in Water
Mass (mg)

20% in Water
500
60% in Water

0 Water in 60%
0 3 6 9 80% in 60%
-500

-1000

Figure 1: Change in mass of the simulated cells over time

Description: The graph above is showing the change in mass over time for the 6 different groups

in the legend. The series named water in water represents a simulated cell filled with 5mL of

water placed into a beaker filled with 200mL of water. The series named 20% in water represents

a simulated cell filled with 5mL of 20% glucose solution placed into a beaker filled with 200mL

of water. The series named 40% in water represents a simulated cell filled with 5mL of 40%

glucose solution placed into a beaker filled with 200mL of pure water. The series labeled 60% in

water represents a simulated cell filled with 5mL of of 60% glucose placed into a beaker filled

with 200mL of pure water. The series named water in 60% represents a simulated cell filled with

5mL of pure water placed into a beaker filled with 200mL of 60% glucose solution. The series

named 80% in 60% represents a simulated cell filled with 5mL of 80% glucose solution placed

into a beaker filled with 200mL of 60% glucose solution. The Y axis is showing the mass of the

dialysis tubes in milligrams. The series are each represented by a different color, and the key

shows which color corresponds to which series The X axis is showing the time in minutes that
 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 13

the dialysis tubes spent in the different solutions. This is a visual representation of the data

shown in table 1.

For part 2 of the lab, the starting color of the solution in the dialysis tube was white, and the

starting color for the solution in the beaker was yellow. After being submerged in the iodine

solution for 15 minutes the simulated cell turned a blue/dark purple color. The color of beaker

after 15 minutes was a pale yellow or almost clear.

Discussion (Analysis of the Results)

Certain simulated cells lost and gained weight in part one of the lab due to the osmotic

environment they were placed into. In set up 1, the simulated cell was placed into an isotonic

environment, so it maintained about the same weight. This was due to the same amount of pure

water concentration inside and outside of the cell. When placed into a hypertonic environment,

the mass of cell decreases because water rushes out of the cell, due to a higher concentration of

water inside the cell. When placed into a hypotonic environment, the mass of the cell increases

because water rushes into the cell, due to a higher concentration of water outside of the cell. As

the simulated cell gets closer to equilibrium, the rate of osmosis slows down. When there is a

higher concentration gradient osmosis increases, but when there is a lower concentration gradient

osmosis decreases. The simulated cell filled with an 80% glucose solution placed into a beaker

filled with 60% glucose solution did not gain as much weight from 0-3 minutes as the simulated

cell with 20% glucose solution in a beaker of pure water, partly because of human error. Since

the data of the lab was averaged from multiple different classes, outliers would have affected the

average for the 80% in 60% simulated cell. Even though the 80% cell was placed into the same

beaker with a pure water cell, in the same 60% solution, this does not mean they were placed into

the same osmotic environments. The 80% in 60% was placed into a hypotonic environment, with
 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 14

water rushing into the cell because of a higher concentration of pure water outside the cell. But,

the pure water placed in the 60% solution was in a hypertonic environment, with water rushing

out of the cell, because of a higher concentration of water inside the cell. The same change in

mass was expected for the 80% in 60% simulated cell and the 20% in pure water simulated cell

because both of those have a 20% concentration gradient, but that did not happen.

In part two of the lab, the simulated cell turned blue because the simulated cell was

permeable to the iodine and not the starch. The dialysis tubing/simulated cell will always be

permeable to water because of aquaporins, but this lab shows that it is also permeable to iodine.

One source of error could have been not leaving the simulated cells in their solutions for a long

enough period of time. The cells were only left in for 9 minutes, if they were left in for a longer

period of time there would have been more accurate results. Another source of error could have

been in part 2 if the outside of the simulated cells were not completely washed off before the cell

was placed into the beaker. A third source of error could have been not tying the string tight

enough on the simulated cell, allowing certain solutions to get in and out of the cell that were not

supposed to. A final source of error could have been an uneven amount of solution inside the

cells or not enough solution placed into the simulated cell. It was supposed to be 5mL, but there

may have been an error when measuring. One main future change for this lab would be allowing

the simulated cells longer periods of time in their solutions. This would have provided much

more accurate results.

Conclusion

In conclusion, each of the hypotheses were correct. For part one, each simulated cell

gained, and lost mass as expected. And, for part two the simulated was only permeable to the
 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 15

iodine and not the starch turning the inside of the simulated cell blue/dark purple. This is what

was predicted.
 Diffusion Through the Cell Membrane with Osmosis 16

References

Biggs, A., Hagins, W., Holliday, W., Kapicka, C., Lundgren, L., MacKenzie, A., … Zike, D.

(2012). Biology. Columbus: McGraw-Hill.

Diffusion Through Cell Membrane Lab Guide. (2018, April). Diffusion Through Cell

Membranes.

Le Bach Pham, Sarah Malburg. (2013, February 24) The Process of Osmosis.

Web site: https://www.brighthubeducation.com/science-homework-help/101939-how-

osmosis-works-in-cells/

Janet Rae-Dupree, Pat DuPree. The Cell Membrane: Diffusion, Osmosis, and Active Transport.

Web Site: http://www.dummies.com/education/science/anatomy/the-cell-membrane-

diffusion-osmosis-and-active-transport/