BACKGROUND

Diffusion is the random movement of molecules from a higher concentration gradient to a lower concentration gradient only of that specific molecule. Osmosis is a type of diffusion which water molecules move through a selectively permeable membrane from an area of high water potential to an area of low water potential. Water potential is governed by the equation = iCRT + p where I is solute ratio, C is the concentration, R is a constant and T is the temperature. p is the pressure potential, which is only present in plant cells due to their cell walls. In an animal cell, this value is zero due to the lack of a cell wall. Due to the negative, the highest water potential is zero which can only happen if one or more of the variables are zero. Generally, a water potential of zero only occurs in distilled water. Osmosis constantly occurs between cells and their environment. If a cell is in a hypotonic environment, the environment will have a lower concentration gradient and a higher water potential. This will result in a net movement of water into the cell, causing it to become turgid and possibly explode. If the cell is in a hypertonic environment, the environment will have a higher concentration gradient and a lower water potential. This will cause a net movement of water outward from the cell, causing it to become flaccid. The two experiments illustrate osmosis between an emulated cell and its environment. The first experiment utilizes an emulated cell using a dialysis bag as the selectively permeable membrane. Sealed inside the dialysis bag is a specific molarity of glucose. The emulated cell is then submerged under a solution with a specific molarity of glucose. Water will then diffuse into the cell depending on the concentration gradient of the solution. Since the membrane (dialysis bag) is selectively permeable, only water molecules can diffuse through. The second experiment uses potato cores instead of an emulated cell. The potato cores are placed in a solution with a specific molarity of glucose and the change of mass in the potato cores compared to the molarity of glucose is used to determine the concentration of glucose in the potato cores.

PROCEDURE
Osmosis Experiment 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Obtain 6 dialysis bags. Fill each of the bags with different molarities of glucose and seal both ends tightly. Measure the initial mass. Obtain 6 cups of distilled water. Completely submerge one bag in each cup of water. Wait 30 minutes and then weigh the final mass of the dialysis bags.

Potato Core Experiment 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Obtain four small pieces of potato. Measure the initial masses of all four pieces combined. Obtain one cup with specific molarity of glucose solution. Put potato cores in cup and cover the cup to prevent evaporation. Allow to sit overnight. Weigh final mass of potato.

DATA TABLE(S)
Percent Change in Mass of Dialysis Bags vs. Molarity of Glucose in Dialysis Bags Group Group Group Group 4 Group Group Group Group Average 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 7.700% 2.500% 1.300% -3.000% 0.370% 0.700% 3.130% 0.700% 1.500% 6.30% 8.50% 9.30% 11% 15.80% 11.30% 4% 9.47% 3.10% 8.05% 8.13% 8.50% 6% 6% 7.80% 3.72% 5.10% 6.80% 5.70% 8% 4.80% 8.80% 3.30% 4.62% 7.19% 9.37% 11.47% 12.59%

Distilled Water 0.2 M Glucose 0.4 M Glucose 0.6 M Glucose 0.8 M Glucose 1.0 M Glucose

14% 10.20%

10.50% 10.10% 13.90% 10.50% 16.70% 11.50% 14.20% 14.20%

9.90% 10.30%

Percent Change in Potato Cores vs. Molarity of Glucose of Environment Initial Distilled Water 0.2 M Glucose 0.4 M Glucose 0.6 M Glucose 0.8 M Glucose 1.0 M Glucose 3 3.1 3.1 2.7 2.8 2.9 Final 3.1 2.9 2.8 2.3 2.3 2.1 Change % Change 0.10 3.33% -0.20 -0.30 -0.40 -0.50 -0.80 -6.49% -9.70% -15.00% -17.90% -27.60%

DATA ANALYSIS

Molarity of Glucose in Dialysis Bags vs. Percent Change in Mass

16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 Change in Percent (%)

y = 11.169x + 2.2057 R = 0.9805

Series1 Linear (Series1)

0.8

1.2

Change of Molarity of Glucose in Dialysis Bags (M)

Molarity of Glucose in Cups vs. Percent Change of Mass in Potato Cores

5 Chnage of Percent (%) 0 -5 0 -10 -15 -20 -25 -30 Change of Molarity of Glucose in Cups (M) y = -27.74x + 1.6433 R = 0.9662 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 Series1 Linear (Series1)

DATA ANALYSIS CONTINUED

As shown by the graph(s), the percent change in mass of the emulated cells and potato cores vs. the molarity of the glucose solution exhibits a linear relationship. In the osmosis dialysis bag experiment, as the molarity of the glucose solution in the dialysis bags increased, the percent change in mass also increased. In the potato core experiment, as the molarity of the glucose solution increased, the change in mass of the potato cores decreased. In the osmosis dialysis bag experiment, the graph specifically illustrates the degree of how much water will diffuse into the dialysis bags depending on how much more hypertonic the emulated cells are. In the potato core experiment, the graph illustrated how the potato cores lost more water as the environment of the potato cores became more hypertonic. The starting point of the graph of the osmosis dialysis bag experiment shows how when the glucose solution inside the dialysis bag had an equal concentration to its environment there was little to no change in mass. The xintercept of the potato core graph is an estimate of the molarity of glucose in the potato cores. The starting point of the potato core graph shows how the environment of the potato cores is hypotonic as shown by the positive percent change in mass. Calculation of Water Potential of Potato = iCRT I=1 C = 0.059 (As shown by x-intercept of graph) R = 0.0831 T = 22+273 = 295 = -1 * 0.059 * 0.0831 * 295 =

-1.446

THE MAIN POINTS

The constant of the osmosis dialysis bag experiment was the solution the dialysis bags were placed in. Since the solution is distilled water, its concentration gradient will always be equal to or less than the solution in the dialysis bags. The distilled water solution also has the highest water potential (aside from a plant cell) which means it will either always diffuse into the dialysis bags or not diffuse at all. As the glucose solution inside the dialysis bags increases in molarity, the difference in water potential between the emulated cells and their environment also increases which results in a greater percent increase in mass, as highlighted by the graphs. During the starting point of the graph of the osmosis dialysis bag experiment, the solution inside the dialysis bag was also distilled water, which means the solution inside the dialysis bag is isotonic to the distilled water of the cup. This equates to equal water potentials between the dialysis bag and its environment which results in little to no change in mass in the dialysis bag. The constant of the potato core graph are the potato cores. Unlike the first experiment, the molarity of the potato cores are unknown, but can be estimated by using the graph. As the molarity of the glucose solution in the potato cores environment becomes more hypertonic, the water potential difference increases which results in a greater percent change in mass. During the starting point of the graph, the environment, which is distilled water, has a higher water potential than the potato cores, resulting in the potato cores gaining mass. However as the molarity of the environment increases, the water potential begins to decrease. Eventually, the potato cores will have a higher water potential than its environment which causes them to instead lose mass. This is shown as some of the y-points (percent change) in the graph are positive while others are negative. The x-intercept (molarity of glucose) of the graph is the potato cores estimated glucose molarity because that is the point where percent change is 0, meaning the potato cores must be isotonic to their environment. If the potato cores are isotonic to their environment, that means they both have equal water potentials, which results in no change in mass.

UNDERSTANDING QUESTIONS
1. Define water potential. What are the two components of water potential? What value does pure water have? Is it possible for a cell to have a value greater that pure water? Explain. Answer #1: Water potential is the ability of water to diffuse from one concentration gradient to another. Water potential is determined by the equation = s + p where s is the solute potential and p is the pressure potential (only found in plant cells). Therefore, the two main components are the solute potential and the pressure potential. Pure water has a water potential value of zero due to having no concentration or solute ratios, causing the solute potential (s = iCRT) to equate to zero. It is possible for a plant cell to have a greater water potential than that of pure water due to the pressure potential resulting from the cell wall. If the pressure potential is great enough, it is possible to be equal to or greater than the negative solute potential. 2. Explain, exactly, how solute lowers the potential of water to move. Answer #2: Dissolved solute causes a decrease of free water molecules. The polar water molecules will be attracted to the cations or anions of the dissolved solute, resulting in less free water molecules to diffuse which lowers the water potential. 3. How would you determine the water potential of a sour patch kid? Yes, this is a serious question! (Lab procedure with potato). Do you think it could really be done with sour patch kids? Why or why not.

Answer #3: In order to determine the water potential of a sour patch kid, the experimenter(s) will have to assume that a sour patch kid is composed mostly of sucrose. The experimenters can set up an apparatus similar to that of the potato core experiment except by using sour patch candies instead of potato cores. By using the x-intercept of the graph of the sour patch kids data, the experimenter can determine the sucrose molarity of the sour patch kid. With the founded molarity and the equation = iCRT, the experimenter can calculate the solute potential of the sour patch kids. Assuming sour patch kids are not made out of plant cells (that would be weird); the solute potential of the sour patch kids would be equal to the water potential. It is possible to calculate the water potential of a sour patch kid, however, it would be difficult since the sour patch kid is composed of multiple ingredients and theres no barrier surrounding the sour patch kid to prevent it from dissolving in the solution of its environment. 4. What is plasmolysis and why does it occur? Answer #4: Plasmolysis is the process of which plant cells become extremely flaccid and shriveled up and losing their water in osmosis. It occurs when the plant cell is put in a hypertonic solution. Abiding to the laws of osmosis, the plant cell loses all its water since it is hypotonic.