Biology Form 4

Experiment 3.1 Movement Of Substances Across A Semi-Permeable Permeable Membrane.

Aim :________________________________________________________________

Problem statement : What substances are able to move across a semi-permeable membrane?

Hypothesis :________________________________________________________________

Variables manipulated variable :____________________________________________

Responding variable :____________________________________________

Constant variable :____________________________________________

Materials : Benedict’s solution, 1% starch suspension, iodine solution, 30 % glucose

solution, a visking tubing, distilled water and cotton thread.

Apparatus : test tubes, beakers, Bunsen burner, wire gauze and tripod stand.

Procedure :
1. Soak one visking tubing in water for a while. Tie a knot firmly at one end.
2. Pour 10ml of glucose solution and 10ml of starch suspension into the Visking tube. Tie a
knot at the top of the tubing. Record the colour of the mixture.
3. Rinse the outside of the Visking tubing using distilled water.
4. Pour 300ml of distilled water into a beaker. Add in 10ml of iodine solution. Record the
colour of its solution.
5. Immerse the Visking tubing in the beaker of solution for 30 minutes as shown in the
diagram.

6. After 30 minutes, remove the Visking tubing and transfer it into a dry beaker.
7. Record the colours of the contents in the Visking tubing and the solution in the beaker.
8. Test for the presence of glucose in the content of the Visking tubing and the solution in the
beaker using the following steps:
a. Pour 2ml of the solution into a test tube and add in 1ml of Benedict’s solution.
b. Heat the mixture in a beaker of water bath. Record the change in colour.
Result:
Iodine test
Solution in Contents Benedict’s test
Initial colour Final colour

Visking tubing

Beaker

Discussion:
1. Based on the result, make an inference on the size of the iodine molecules as compared to starch
molecules.
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2. Compare the size of glucose molecules with starch molecules.

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3. Based on the results of this experiment, explain briefly the importance of the breakdown of
starch to glucose in the digestive canal.
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Conclusion:
Is the hypothesis accepted? Give your explanation.
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