THE TRANSPORT OF LIQUID SUBSTANCES TO THE DE-SHELLED EGGS

THROUGH OSMOSIS

A Scientific Paper
submitted to

Cristine J. Gonzaga, MSc.

Department of Biological Sciences
College of Science and Mathematics
MSU-IIT

In partial fulfillment of the requirements

of the course Bio 108.1 Cell Biology Laboratory

James Ivan A. Baluran

Ralf Benjo G. Morilla
Veronica B. Tañan
Angel May Luga

December 2018

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 ABSTRACT

The direction of the movement of water depends on what type of solution does the cell

are in contact with. This type of solution may hypertonic, hypotonic, or isotonic. These different

types have different reaction to the cell. This type solution may cause the cell to swell, to burst,

to shrink, or no reaction at all. Hypotonic solution may cause the cell to swell. The swelling of

the cell is due to the movement of water molecule from the solution into the cell where there is

low concentration of water inside the cell. In hypertonic solution, the cell may shrink. This

shrinking effect is due to the movement of water from the inside environment of the cell into the

solution where there is low concentration of water compare to the inside environment of the cell.

In isotonic solution, there are no changes in the cell shape and there is no reaction at all. This

observation is due to equal water concentration between the solution and the cell. Those

observations mentioned above is due to osmosis where water tends to travel from higher

concentration into lower concentration. In this study, we used liquid substances that are

commonly used or intake by a typical student as being observed by the researcher. These

substances are the dissolved Paracetamol Biogesic tablet, Cobra energy drink, Gatorade sports

drink, calamansi juice, and Nescafe 3-in-1 coffee. Through this study, the researcher aimed to

determine what type of solution these liquid substances are and what are their effects in the cell

following the principle of diffusion.

Keyword: osmosis, isotonic solution, hypertonic solution, hypotonic solution

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract........................................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 4-6
Background of the study ..............................................................................................................4
Statement of the problem .............................................................................................................5
Objectives of the study ............................................................................................................. 5-6
Scope and Limitations .................................................................................................................6
Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 7-8
Materials .......................................................................................................................................7
Methods .................................................................................................................................... 7-8
Results and Discussion .............................................................................................................. 9-12
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 13-14
References .....................................................................................................................................15

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 INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Cell is the basic unit of life. All living things are made of cells. Some living things are

made of only one cell; however, most of the living things we are familiar with including plants,

animals, even humans are made of many cells. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are separated

from the external environment by a cell membrane. The cell membrane that surrounds the

billions of tiny cells are selectively permeable membrane. The cell’s membrane is “selectively

permeable” since some things can pass through it easily, while other things will not be able to

pass through it very easily or at all. Understanding the structure and properties of cell membranes

is important to understand how cells function. Although the details of cell membrane

composition and structure vary according to its specific function, all of them are composed of

mainly lipids and proteins in a structure known as a lipid bilayer. Membranes are lipid-protein

assemblies in which the components are held together in a thin sheet by non-covalent bonds.

Lipid Molecules are insoluble in water but dissolve readily in organic solvents. It is the shape

and amphipathic nature of the lipid molecules that cause them to form bilayers spontaneously in

aqueous solutions. The lipid bilayer has been regarded as the universal basis for the cell

membrane structure. Its structure can be attributed to the special characteristics of the lipid

molecules. Lipid bilayer exhibits two important properties. First, the hydrophobic core is an

impermeable barrier that prevents the diffusion of water soluble solutes. Importantly, this simple

barrier function is modulated by the presence of membrane proteins that mediate the transport of

specific molecules across this otherwise impermeable bilayer. The second property of the bilayer

is its stability. The bilayer structure is maintained by hydro phobic and van der Waals

interactions between the lipid chains. Even though the exterior aqueous environment can vary

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widely in ionic strength and pH, the bilayer has the strength to retain the characteristic

architecture.

Statement of the problem

Cells have different reaction on every type of solution they are in contact with. The cells

may shrink, may bloat, may burst, and there is no reaction at all. These types of solutions are

hypotonic in which the cell may bloat or burst, hypertonic in which the cell may shrink, and

isotonic in which there is no reaction at ell between the cell and the liquid substance. The

different solutions (liquid substances) used in the study are the substances that are commonly

used by the different students as being observed by the researchers. These liquid substances,

coffee, Paracetamol Biogesic, sport drinks, energy drinks and calamansi juice. The study will

determine on what will happen to our cells when they are in contact to the different liquid

substance mentioned above.

Objectives of the study

When the cell is subjected to different types of solution, it may exhibit different reaction

or may not at all depending on the type of solution. When subjected to hypotonic solution in

which the osmotic pressure is lower than that of the cell. The solutes in a hypotonic solution are

also less (in concentration) than that of inside the cell. Thus, a hypotonic solution would rather

have more water which would cause the water to enter (diffuse) into the cell. This, in turn, would

cause the cell to swell. An isotonic solution is when two solutions, separated by a semipermeable

membrane, have equal concentrations of solutes and water. The cell will remain normal in

animal cell while flaccid in plants cell. A hypertonic solution is one where the concentration of

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solutes is greater outside the cell than inside it. The cell will shrivelled in this solution due to the

loss of water.

This study will allow us to predict on what type of solutions that the substances tested in

the egg membrane. This study also aims to study the effect of acetic acid in vinegar on cell

membranes, to apply the concept of transport of substances in cell membranes through

investigation and experiment, and to have a hands-on experience working with the hydrophobic

and hydrophilic nature of the cell membrane and membrane proteins as channels. Since the egg

membrane is a good model of the human cells, we can also predict the effects of these substances

to our cells.

Scope and Limitations

The study is performed by the researchers in the month of November 2018. There is no

common date in November 2018 where the researchers perform the experiments since the

researchers observed the liquid substance assigned by the group leader to them. The liquid

substances are bought only in Iligan City, Philippines. And the study is all about the effect of

dissolved Paracetamol Biogesic, 3-in-1 cofee, calamsi juice, gatorade sport drinks, and cobra

energy drinks in the de-shelled egg.

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 METHODOLOGY

Materials

The following are the materials used in the study of osmosis and diffusion of the liquid

substances.

 5 raw eggs

 Vinegar

 5 container

 3 Biogesic tablet dissolved in 150mL water

 1 sachet Nescafe 3-in-1 coffee original mix in 200 mL of hot water

 330 mL Cobra energy drink

 200 mL of calamsi juice

 350 mL of Gatorade Sport Drinks

 Tape measure or ruler

Methods

Looking at the egg from the outside we see the shell, which is a hard, protective covering

made of calcium carbonate. The shell is porous. (There are about 7,000 pores in a chicken

eggshell.) This allows the transfer of gases through the shell. Carbon dioxide and moisture are

given off through the pores and are replaced by atmospheric gases, including oxygen.

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 The researcher upon conducting preliminary observation and measurement on the eggs

physical appearance submerged the eggs into 1-liter vinegar which consists of 96% water and

4% acetic acid. The acetic acid in the vinegar will react with the calcium carbonate in the

eggshells to make calcium acetate plus water and carbon dioxide bubbles which was

immediately seen on the surface of the

eggs once submerged in vinegar. This set

up was set aside for two days. The eggs

will get slightly bigger after soaking in

vinegar. Some of the water in the vinegar

will enter the egg through osmosis. Eggs’

membrane equalized the concentration of

Figure 1 Parts of the egg water on both side of the membrane.

By gently rubbing the eggs surface by the hand or by running the egg under water, the remaining

bits of shell will be removed, leaving the cell membrane naked. Blot dry with a paper towel or by

a tissue. Immediately beneath the shell are two membranes, the outer and inner shell membranes.

These membranes protect the contents of the egg from bacteria and prevent moisture from

leaving the egg too quickly. The researcher then conducted the necessary parameters and

observation before proceeding to further steps. Each egg then was submerged into five different

solutions with its volume being monitored. After one day, the eggs are taken from the liquid and

are being measured using ruler or tape measure in order to get its circumference (length and

width)

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 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The tables below are the data that are being gathered by the researchers in performing the

experiment in order to support the hypothesis formulated by the researchers. In table 1, there is a

comparison of the size of the egg before and after its soaking in the vinegar. There is the data on

how the vinegar increases the size of an egg and how the vinegar de-shelled the egg. In table 2, it

shows the data that being observed after the de-shelled egg are subjected to different liquid

substances. The data shows how these different substances change the size of the de-shelled egg.

Table 1. Measurement of the egg circumference before and after submerging in Vinegar

Before soaking in Vinegar After soaking in Vinegar

MEASUREMENT EGG EGG EGG EGG EGG EGG EGG EGG EGG EGG
A B C D E A B C D E
Length 164 165 166 170 165 190 180 192 184 180
Circumference
(mm)
Width 141 145 146 138 143 166 165 160 161 164
Circumference
(mm)

Based on the obtained results shown in table 1, the size of the eggs greatly increased in

circumference both in length and width. It can be deduced that the acetic acid content of the

vinegar greatly enhanced the penetration permeability of the membrane allowing ample amount

of water to diffuse inside the cells of the eggs making it increased in size evidently. The water

diffuses through the membrane via osmosis into the inside of the cell of the eggs. As shown in

the table above, there is an increase in circumference since the water from the vinegar is move

into the internal environment of the de-shelled egg due to osmotic pressure. There is low osmotic

pressure in vinegar which results to the movement of water molecule into the de-shelled egg.

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Following the principle of osmosis, there is higher concentration of water in the vinegar than

inside the de-shell egg. Water molecules will travel from the higher concentration in vinegar to

low water concentration in the egg.

Table 2. Data collected after submerging the de-shelled egg to different substances used in

the study

LIQUID RESULT Volume of Volume of Measurement Measurement

SUBSTANCE (swollen, liquid used in liquid left of the Egg of the Egg (
shrink, burst, submerging after the (Length Width
no reaction) the egg reaction of circumference) Circumference)
the solution
and the egg
Dissolved Swollen 250 mL 164 mL 210 mm 175mm
Paracetamol
Biogesic
Cobra Energy Swollen 330 mL 270 mL 193mm 170mm
drink
Gatorade No reaction 350mL 350 mL 193mm 160mm
Sports drink
Calamansi Swollen 200 mL 55 mL 190mm 166mm
Juice
Nescafe 3-in- Swollen 200 mL 150 mL 188mm 168mm
1 cofee

By comparing table 1 and table 2 in terms of circumference of the egg, the size of eggs

fluctuates depending on the type of solution that serves as its environment. The egg A after being

submerged in the dissolved biogesic tablet, the size increases from 190mmx166mm to

210mmx175mm. The water that dissolved the biogesic tablet are travelled into the inside

environment of egg A via osmosis which result to swelling of the egg. The egg A has lower

concentration of water molecules that is why water molecules enter the egg membrane thus,

increase in size. The osmotic pressure in the solution of the dissolved biogesic tablet is lower that

the osmotic pressure inside the egg membrane. In egg B, the size of the egg increases from

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180mmx195mm to 193mmmx170mm. The swollen egg B is submerged in the 330 mL of Cobra

energy drink. Water molecules present in the Cobra energy drink tend to enter to the membrane

of the egg since the energy drink has higher concentration of water than in the de-shelled egg.

Following the principle of osmosis, the water in the energy drink will enter the egg’s membrane

which makes the egg B swell. There is no reaction between the de-shelled egg C and the

Gatorade sports drink. There are no changes that being observed in the egg. By principle of

osmosis, there is an equal concentration of water between the sports drink and the egg C. Under

observation, egg D swell after it is being submerged in the Calamansi juice. There is a change in

size of the egg from 184mmx161mm in circumference to 190mmx166mm in circumference. The

swelling effect of the interaction of the juice and the egg is due to the movement of water

molecules of the juice into the egg membrane. Water concentration of the egg is lower than in

the juice which results to the movement of water into the egg via osmosis. And lastly, the egg D

is also swell after being submerged to Nescafe 3-in-1 coffee. The water that dissolve the nescafe

3-in-1 instant coffee powder travel into the egg’s membrane which result to the swelling of the

egg. The size of the egg increased its size from 180mmx164mm to 188mmx168mm. The water

molecules tend to travel to the egg D since it has the lower concentration of water and have

higher osmotic pressure compare to the coffee.

The different substances used in the study makes the de-shelled egg to swell except to the

Gatorade Sports drinks where there is no reaction at all. The liquid substances except the sports

drink increases the size of the egg. The increase of size of the de-shelled egg is being observed

because there is movement of water from the liquid substances into the internal environment of

the egg. This movement of water is due to osmosis in which the water tends to travel from the

higher concentration of water to lower concentration. This movement of water also is due to the

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osmotic pressure between the egg and the substances. The low osmotic pressure present in the

liquid substances makes the water molecules to enter to the egg’s membrane. This movement of

water makes the de-shelled egg to swell.

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 CONCLUSION

Therefore, based on the obtained results, it can be deduced that acetic acid content of the

vinegar have profound effect on the membrane of the cell. It enhances the cell permeability to

water molecules allowing it to enter the cell hence the cell increases in size. The movement of

water into and out of the cell which is known as osmosis equalizes the concentration of the

solute-solvent of the cell and its environment. These movement ceases once the concentration

gradient of the cell disappears though the water may still randomly moved but no longer

concerns the cell matrix concentrations.

Water movement’s direction varies accordingly to the types of solution the cell

environment possesses. When the cell is in hypotonic solution where water concentration inside

the cell is lower compared to that of the surroundings, the water moves into the inside of the cell

from the environment making the cell swell just like what happen to the de-shelled egg that is

being submerged into dissolved biogesic, energy drink, calamansi juice, and coffee. When

subjected to an isotonic environment, where the solute-solvent concentration is equal, there is a

net movement of water and a net concentration like the observation of the de-shelled egg

submerged into the sports drink. The cell will appear normal or flaccid for the plants cell. When

the cell is exposed to a hypertonic solution where the concentration of solute is higher in the

environment than that of the cell, the water from the cell will move out of the cell making the

cell to shrink or plasmolized.

In addition, when the cell is subjected to a hypotonic solution, it will gain or absorb more

water molecule to equalize the concentration in and out of the cell hence, volume of the solution

outside the cell will distinctively decrease. When subjected to a hypertonic solution, the cell

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losses much water to equalize the concentration of the cell to its surrounding thus the cell shrink

in size while the environment gain much water increasing its volume. In an isotonic solution, no

change in concentration will further occur since the equilibrium has taken place.

As being observed from the study, we can conclude the type of solution of these liquid

substances to our cells. From table 2, we can conclude that dissolved biogesic tablet, cobra

energy drink, calamansi juice, and Nescafe 3-in-1 coffee are hypotonic to our cells. And

Gatorade sports drink are isotonic in our cells since there is no reaction and changes that are

being observed in the study thus the water concentration are equal between the two environment.

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10, 2018
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