Rehaan Virani

14/09/2018

Biology

DIFFUSION IN AGAR CUBES

Research Question
To what extent does surface area to volume ratio affect the rate of diffusion of NaOH in
Agar Cubes of sizes 1cm3, 2cm3, and 3cm3 measured by percentage volume of diffusion
overtime?

Background Research:

Cell Membrane of a cell is selectively permeable which means that it regulates the
substances which can pass through the cell. It is important to transport material
through the cells like nutrients, water, oxygen etc. This life process is important for our
existence as this transportation links all of our body parts so that all our body parts
work together. This process of transportation of materials through the cell membrane
is called as Diffusion.
In the process of diffusion, the materials outside the cells which are highly concentrated
moves down their concentration gradient and becomes less concentrated upon entering
the cell to be evenly spread and achieve equilibrium. This process could be
demonstrated through diffusion of a substance into the jelly-like-substance Agar in
place of cell.
Since the Substance and Agar are both colourless, we will add phenolphthalein into the
Agar cubes. Thus, when we dip the cubes into NaOH, the NaOh will slowly start diffusing
through the Agar cubes, then we can observe and analyse the rate of diffusion. In this
case Agar cubes are acting like the cells and NaOh is acting like a material which is being
diffused into the cell. Our aim with this lab will be to examine how the surface area to
volume ratio of the cell will affect the rate of diffusion.

Hypothesis
I hypothesize that bigger the surface area and volume ratio of the Agar Cube, the faster
the NaOH solution will diffuse into the cube measured by volume of diffusion over time.

1|Page
Table 1.1: Variables:
Variable What is it? How am I measuring How am I controlling it?
it?
Independent Surface Area Will Measure the In order to shape the agar
to Volume surface area and cubes according to the
Ratio volume of each cube Surface Area to Volume ratio,
using a ruler in I will decide the required
centimetres. measurements and then cut
the cubes using a ruler and a
scalpel.
Dependent Rate of Volume of undissolved
Diffusion NaOh in Agar cube
minus Volume of
dissolved NaOh in
Agar Cube.
Controlled Type of Phenolphthalein mixed I will control it iby choosing
Indicator with agar power while only phenolphthalein out of
used to show preparing agar cubes. all other indicators.
the Colour
Type and pH NaOh solution pH
of substance
to dip agar
cubes in
Time, we 10 Minutes with a stop
keep the watch
cubes in the
solution
Temperature Room temperature:
of the NaOH 23* Celsius

Table 1.2: Apparatus

Name of the Apparatus Quantity/capacity

Agar Jelly Cubes Length: 1cm, 2 cm, 3 cm
(with mixed phenolphthalein) Quantity: 2 each
Scalpel 1
Measuring Cylinder 200ml
Beaker 500ml
NaOH 400ml
Timer 1
Petri Dish 2
Gloves 1

2|Page
 Lab Coat 1

Method
1. Take the agar sheet and using a ruler cut the following sizes of cubes:
Two 1 cm cubes
Two 2 cm cubes
Two 3 cm cubes
2. Pour 200 ml of NaOH into the measuring cylinder
3. Pour exact 200 ml NaOH into the 500 ml beaker.
4. Wear your gloves and put one of each type of cube into the beaker and
immediately start the timer.
5. Leave the cubes in the solution for exactly 10 minutes.
6. Repeat the same steps with the other set of remaining cubes.
7. After the time has passed carefully remove the cubes from the solution and keep
them on the white petri dish.
8. Observe the diffusion of the NaOH into the cubes and measure the dimensions of
the area of the cube which is not yet turned dark pink.
9. Note down the readings of both the sets of the cube.

Apparatus example

Image courtesy of: Nicole Saulnier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=zjgofEF6Vsc

The following image is an illustration of how the apparatus looks. The image is not to
scale or a template for the lab experiment. Strictly only use it to cross reference your
apparatus setup and not the values or the results.

Safety
3|Page
 NaOH is a corrosive substance and has a high pH thus avoid direct skin contact with it.
Wear lab coat at all times to be safe from unexpected spillage and water rubber gloves
to put the hand in the solution.
Phenolphthalein is an easily flammable solution thus keep the experiment away from
areas prone to fire.
Handle the scalpel with care while cutting the Agar block as it has a sharp edge which
can easily pierce through out skin. If scalpel is not in use keep the sharp end covered.
Wash hands after the experiment as a caution to avoid contact of NaOH with the skin
after the experiment.

Disposal:
Don’t dump NaOH into the sink as it will be disposed into the soil which can disturb the
pH level of the soil, thus put the solution into a sand disposal bucket.
Carefully rinse the agar cubes with water to lower its pH and then dispose it normally
into the bin.

Collecting Raw Data

Table 2.1: Quantitative:
Surface Volume Surface Area Volume Trial
Area of of the to Volume of Percentage of Diffusion Numbe
the Cube Cube ratio diffused r
area of
Volume of Undiffused cube
cm2 Cm3 Surface Area the Cube ×100
Total Volume of theCube
(± 2 mm) (± 1 mm) Volume
Cm3

6 1 6 0.00 0.00% 1
0.00 2
24 8 3 0.27 75.67% 1
0.27 2
54 27 2 19.00 70.37% 1
19.00 2

Calculation methods

4|Page
In order to reach a comparable solution, I had taken out the measurements of the cubes
prior to the experiment. By using a ruler, first I measured the dimension of the cube
then I took out the surface area and volume through those measurements. After the
experiment, to calculate the area of undiffuse Agar cube I again used the ruler to
calculate the dimensions and derive the volume.
To find the value to compare to the SA:V ratio, I used the volume of undiffuse cube prior
to the experiment and post experiment to standardize the measurement. With this we
can easily compare the diffusion against SA: V

Sample Calculations:
Surface Area of the Cube: 24cm2
Volume of the Cube: 8cm3
Surface Area: Volume Ratio =
Surface Area 24
= =3
Volume 8

Qualitative Observations:
We can see both of the trials in picture 1.
 In 1cm cube the NaOH has completely diffused
and has achieved the equilibrium by evenly
spreading itself all across the cube.
 In the 2 cm cube the NaOH has managed to
diffuse majorly into the cube however there is
still some volume left to cover. I can see that
because there is a difference in the shade of
dark pink and light pink colour. The dark pink
colour symbolizes
 In the 3 cm cube the NaOH has not managed to
diffuse across most of the cell as we can see
that the light pink colour is dominating.

5|Page
 Surface Area: Volume Ratio and total Diffused Volume
120%
100.00%
Volume Diffused (in %)

100%

80% 75.67%
70.37%

60%

40%

20%

0%
2 3 4 5 6

Surface Area: Volume Ratio

Results and Conclusion

The experiment result can be shown in the graph. The Agar Cube with the surface area:
volume ratio has been diffused in the NaOH solution by 100%, correspondingly the
cubes with SA: V of 3 could only diffuse 75.67% furthermore the Agar cube with SA: V of
2 could only diffuse till 70%. With this data we can conclude that “bigger the Surface
Area to Volume ratio for the cube more the diffusion rate.”
Through this experiment my hypothesis “bigger the surface area and volume ratio of the
Agar Cube, the faster the NaOH solution will diffuse into the cube measured by volume
of diffusion over time” was proved right. The rate of diffusion increases when SA: R
increases because SA: R is inversely proportional to the distance that the substance has
to travel.
When a cell gets larger the rise in the surface area of the cell is significantly more than
the rise in the volume. Above, the Agar cube with the dimensions of 2 cm has the surface
area of 24 cm2 and the volume of 8cm3, When the dimensions rise by just I cm the
surface area rises by 30cm2 whereas the volume raises just by 19cm 3. This means that
when a cell increases in size then the substance trying to diffuse will have to travel more
thus decreasing the rate of diffusion in given time.

Evaluation of the experiment

The experiment had a successful outcome as I was able to prove and understand how
does diffusion happen and how does Surface Area and Volume Ratio affect diffusion.

6|Page
The answer from both the trials were precise therefore the degree of random error is
decreased.

Errors
There are certain areas in the experiment which may cause objections and hinder with the
results.
 In accuracy in cutting the cube.
Since the Agar cubes are so delicate, instead trying to cut them in exact dimensions we
were trying not to break them thus there might be some irregularity in the shape and
dimensions of the cube. This can hinder with the result as it has caused the uncertainty
of ± 2 mm.
 Lack of trials
Due to the time constraint we were only able to finish 2 trials which is insufficient to
confirm the conclusion above.
 Measuring the diffusion
Since the diffusion happened inside of the Agar cube, we couldn’t take the measurement
of the area left to diffuse by cutting the whole diffused block as it may had broken the
whole cube, thus we had to measure it from outside which inaccurate considering the
eye sight perspective may change the readings.
 Pre-Diffusion of Agar Cubes
Before the experiment the Agar Cubes with phenolphthalein were exposed in the air
and kept on unsterile surface. The environment and the surfaces don’t have a neutral PH
thus the phenolphthalein already started to change color before the experiment which
may have changed the values.

Improvement
 Instead of a scalped we should have used a sharp knife to cut the cubes. Since
scalpel has a short-bladed area thus we can’t cut the cube in just one try. In a
regular knife the blade is sufficient to cut the side in one push thus minimizing
the risk of breaking and irregular shape.
 We should have done 5 trials for each dimension of cube to Improve the
precision of the results.
 Performed the experiment in a closed beaker so that the impurities don’t change
the diffusion rate.

7|Page
8|Page