Kim Derby

5/26/2011
A&P lab report
Erika Diffin

1. Diffusion is the “net movement of substances1” from an area of high concentration to

an an area of lower concentration. An example of diffusion in the body would be when
“oxygen moves from the alveoli in the lungs to the blood through the capillaries that line
the alveoular walls.” The carbon dioxide produced during this time diffuses out of the red
blood cells into the capillaries and dissolves in the plasma of the blood2.

2. Osmosis is the “net movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane3”

from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. Osmosis differs
from diffusion because it works only with water molecules, whereas diffusion can work
with any “substance.” Also, osmosis works through a semipermeable membrane, but
diffusion does not need one4.

3. Osmotic pressure is defined as “the maximum pressure that develops in a solution

separated from a solvent by a membrane permeable only to the solvent5.”
Cell #3 had the greatest osmotic pressure because it had the highest concentration of
solute, and it gained the most weight.

4. A hypertonic solution is where the solute concentration is greater than the solvent; in
this case, water will flow out of the cell because the cell will shrivel up and become
crenated. A hypotonic solution is where the solvent concentration is greater than the
solute; water will flow into the cell, causing it to swell and eventually burst. An isotonic
solution is where the concentration of solute and solvent are the same and at
equilibrium; water may flow in and out, but the cell will not undergo any net change6.

5. Cell #1 had an initial weight of 11.3g and a final weight of 14.0g. For cell #1, we had a
concentration of 20% sucrose in the cell with the outside environment of 100% H2O.
Therefore, water went into the cell because of it being in a hypotonic solution. The
concentration gradient was 20%.
Cell #2 had an initial weight of 11.1g and a final weight of 16.8g. Cell #2 had a
concentration of 40% sucrose in the cell with an outside environment of 100% H2O.
Therefore, water went into the cell because of it being in a hypotonic solution. The
concentration gradient was 40%.
Cell #3 had an initial weight of 12.3g and a final weight of 17.1g. Cell #3 had a
concentration of 60% sucrose in the cell with an outside environment of 100% H2O.
Therefore, water went into the cell because of it being in a hypotonic solution. The
concentration gradient was 60%.
Cell #4 had an initial weight of 10.5g and a final weight of 10.7g. Cell #4 had 100% H2O
in the cell with an outside environment of 100% H2O. Therefore, the concentration of the
 solute and the solvent were the same, resulting in an isotonic solution. The
concentration gradient was 0%.

Cell #5 had an initial weight of 10.4g and a final weight of 7.1g. The cell contained 100%
H2O with an outside environment of 40% sucrose solution. Therefore, water flowed out
of the cell, resulting in a hypertonic solution. The concentration gradient was 40%.

6. Cell #3 increased in weight gain faster than cell #1, because it had a higher osmotic
pressure than cell #1. Cell #3 had a greater solute concentration of 40% sucrose than
cell #1 which only had 20% sucrose, so water went into cell #3 at a faster rate.

7.

References:
1. used lab manual
2. “What Are the Lungs and Respiratory System and What Do They Do?” (accessed 25
May 2011). <http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/lungs.html#>.
3. used lab manual
4. used lab manual
5. “Osmotic Pressure.” (accessed 25 May 2011). <http://www.merriam-webster.com/
dictionary/osmotic+pressure>.
6. used my lab manual