Title: The Effect of SaIt Concentrations on Onions

Statement of the Problem: The purpose of this lab is to determine whether an onion
cell displays characteristics of hypotonic, isotonic, or hypertonic and why it displays
those characteristics.
order to determine whether an onion cell displays characteristics of hypotonic,
isotonic, or hypertonic. Hypotonic is when plasmolysis occurs, which is when
protoplast pulls away from the cell wall due to loss of water. Hypertonic is when
osmosis occurs, which causes the protoplast starts to push against the cell wall.
Isotonic is when the cell stays the same, and the protoplast is unaffected.
Hypothesis: If I look at three different solutions then I can determine the salt
concentration
Materials:
.
Safety goggles
Tweezers
Scalpel
Scissors
Microscope
Dropper
50 ML beaker
.
3 Slides
.
White Onion soaked in 3 unknown solution
In this lab I started by putting on safety goggles and collecting my supplies. After
I gathered all my supplies I used the scalpel to cut a thin piece of onion from solution I
and put it on a slide. I then observed it under the microscope under the lowest power and
then switched to t0x and recorded my rezults and did the same at 4Ox. I then did this
process again with solution 2 and 3. When I was done I cleaned my station up and put
everything away.
l. Puton safetygoggles
2. Retrieve 3 unknown solutions and other materials
3. Peel or cut an extremely thin sliver of onion from solution one
4. Place it on a slide
5. Release one drop of water on the onion sample
6. Turn to the lowest magnification power and move stage all the way up using the
coarse adjustuent
7 - Look into the microscope and use the fine adjustnent to focus at the lowest power
8. Turn to the l0x magnification power and focus using the fine adjustrnent
9. Record observations
10. Turn to the 4Ox magnification power and focus using the fine adjustment
I 1. Record observations
12. Repeat steps 3-11 for solutions 2 and 3
13. Return and cleanup all materials
Results:
Palacios 3
Cb{l'f-
shrunk and pulled away from the ceIl wall ,/{
4ar
t *cl4f
"
Honic- the oro
40x
Palari*s 4
cr(f
Conclusion:
My hypothesis was accepted, by looking at three different solutions I determined
the salt concentration in the solutions- My hypothesis was accepted because by observing
three onion cells I determined that solution one had a high salt concentration because the
cell was hypertonic. The salt concentation caused the protoplast to shrink against the cell
wall. Solution two had a low salt concentration because the cell was hypotonic. The salt .
concentration catrsed the protoplast caused the protoplast to swell against the cell wall.
Solution three had an even concentmtion, which didn't affect the protoplast. In this lab I
hamed how salt concentration levels affect the protoplast in plant cells and how to
distinguish them. Some errors that could have occurred in this 1ab were the ririsplacement
of the onions. Some of the onions were moved arotrnd and not placed in the correct
container.
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