Braden Cummings

Young biologist students conducted an experiment to see how osmosis ​and diffusion
works. The students are learning about the cell membrane, cell transport, and osmosis in class.
The cell membrane is important to living things because it keeps unwanted objects out, and vital
chemicals in. ​The purpose of the experiment was for the students to learn how the
diffusion of starch, glucose, and water diffuses across a selectively permeable
membrane.
First, students used one 18 inch piece of dialysis tubing to act as a cell. One end was
tied into a knot. One group of students decided to put glucose into the tube. The biologists then
used a funnel to pour glucose into the ‘cell’. Once the glucose was in, the other end was tied
into a knot, and both ends were tied with dental floss. The tube was massed, and the tube
measured 20.76 grams. Then, the tube was put in a beaker if deionized water and starch. The
students let this sit overnight.
The next day, the tube was massed again, and the results were 21.11 grams. The
students then used eyedropers to test the contents of the beaker and tube by dripping the
contents into a well tray by using two wells for the beaker, and two wells for the tube. The
glucose was tested by using a glucose testing stick. The stick was dipped into the substances of
one pair of beaker and tube wells. A positive reaction would be when the end of the stick goes
from light blue, to green. The starch was tested by placing one drop of iodine into the other pairs
of the beaker and tube. A positive reaction would be when the iodine is a dark red color. The
students​ hypothesis was if a tube was filled with glucose and the outside of the tube was filled
with starch and water, then the starch and water will diffuse into the cell ​while glucose will
remain in the tube.​ Results show:

Days Mass: Glucose Starch Water Glucose Starch Water

(grams) Beaker Beaker Beaker Tube Tube Tube

First Day 20.76 Negative Positive Positive Positive Negative Negative

Second 21.11 Positive Positive Positive Positive Negative Positive

Day
In conclusion, the students hypothesis was 50% correct. The water did diffuse into the
‘cell’, but the starch did not. Glucose; however, did diffuse out of the ‘cell’. The ‘cell’ went
through a hypotonic example. There was more solutes outside of the ‘cell’ than inside, so water
diffused into the ‘cell’ and made the ‘cell’ bigger. This is why there is water inside the tube, and
how the tube has more mass than before.