Osmosis Investigation

Osmosis Investigation

What is Osmosis?

Osmosis is basically the movement of water molecules from a dilute

system solution to a concentrated solution, through a partially

permeable membrane. Water molecules are able to pass through the cell

membrane because they diffuse whereas sugar molecules are larger and

cannot diffuse as easily therefore not being able to pass through.

Cell membranes are like visking tubes because they will let some

substances through but not others. They are partially permeable

membranes.

Osmosis is a very important process which enables plants to support

themselves by absorbing water and minerals through a partially

permeable membrane. Plants are often surrounded by a film of water and

a solution. Cell membranes often separate the two and Osmosis will

occur. Hot water diffuses and enters at a faster rate because there is

more energy whereas cold water enters at a slower rate because there

is less energy.

What do we have to do?

To carry out the Osmosis project we have to measure the amount of

water and solution that enters carrot tissue through the partially

permeable membrane. We will change the strengths of the solution and

then weigh the carrots to see if they are heavier and have absorbed

more water and solution. We can change the strengths of the solution

by adding water to the solution to weaken it meaning the more water

the weaker the solution. We will record our results and then repeat

the experiment to make sure the results are correct and accurate.

I will put different strengths of solution into five beakers and then

put five equally cut carrots into the solutions. After five minutes I

will weigh each of the carrots and then put them back into the

beakers. I will do the same sequence every five minutes and record my

results each time. I will weight them five times and then repeat the

experiment to make sure my results are accurate and correct.

Hypertonic Solutions

These solutions contain a high concentration of solute relative to