Name/Group #

Date

Student Guide

AP Biology Laboratory 1

Diffusion and Osmosis

Objectives
Use dialysis tubing to model diffusion across the cell membrane
Investigate the influence of solute concentration on osmosis
Investigate the concept of water potential in relation to water movement into or out of plant cells

Background to Activities A and B

The cell membrane is a cells interface with its surroundings. In one sense, this membrane must function
as a barrier: it must keep together in one bundle the enzymes, DNA, and metabolic pathways that make
life possible. The cell membrane must also function as a gateway: waste products must be discharged
through it and essential materials (oxygen, water, etc.) must enter through it. A membrane that allows
some molecules to pass through while blocking the passage of others is said to be semipermeable.
Molecules pass through the cell membrane either through processes that require the cell to expend
energy (active transport), or through processes driven by the kinetic (thermal) energy of molecules
(passive transport).
In these lab activities, you will investigate the passage of materials through a semipermeable membrane
by passive transport. The membrane you will use, dialysis tubing, is semipermeable because it has
submicroscopic holes through it. Molecules are in constant random motion. By chance, a molecules
motion may move it toward the membrane (Figure 1). If it collides with the membrane wall, it rebounds.
If its motion takes it toward a pore, it may either pass through the pore, or it may rebound, depending
upon the size of the molecule relative to the diameter of the pore. Molecules that are small enough to
pass through the pores can pass through in either direction. Notice that on one side of the membrane
solute molecules have displaced some of the water molecules. Thus, there is a higher concentration of
water molecules on the opposite side of the membrane. More water molecules are available to collide
with the membrane on the side having the higher concentration of water. Thus, although water
molecules will move in both directions across the membrane, more will move from the side having the
higher concentration to the side having the lower concentration. The movement of molecules from
areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration is called diffusion.
The diffusion of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane is termed osmosis. A process that
depends upon random motion might seem inefficient, but so many water molecules are involved and
they move so fast, that it is estimated that a red blood cell floating in blood plasma gains an amount of
water equal to 125 times its own volume every second. It also loses the same amount of water each
second, all by osmosis. This occurs because the concentration of solutes in the blood plasma is the
same as the concentration of solutes in red blood cells. Solutions that have the same solute
concentration are isotonic. If we took a sample of whole blood and added salt to the plasma,
increasing its solute concentration, the plasma becomes hypertonic to the solution in the red blood
cells, and the cells lose water and shrink. If we add water to the blood plasma, decreasing its solute
concentration, the plasma becomes hypotonic to the solution in the red blood cells. The cells gain
water, swell, and may even burst.

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= membrane

= water

and

= solutes

Figure 1

Activity A: Diffusion
Materials
Dialysis tubing, plastic cup, glucose/starch solution, distilled water, iodine-potassium iodide (IKI)
solution, dropping pipet, glucose test strips, funnel.
Caution: IKI solution can irritate the skin, mouth, and eyes, and can stain skin or clothing.

Introduction
In Activity A, you will explore the diffusion of different molecules through dialysis tubing, a
semipermeable membrane. You will use glucose test strips to check for the presence of glucose and IKI
solution to test for the presence of starch. As you probably know, IKI reacts with starch to give a dark
blue, almost black color. When IKI reacts with starch, it becomes part of the starch molecule and is
removed from solution.

Procedure
1. Pour 160170 mL of distilled water into a plastic cup. Add approximately 4 mL of IKI solution to the
water and mix well. Record the initial solution color in Table 1 on page S-4. Dip a glucose test strip into
the solution and record the initial glucose test results in Table 1. Use the + symbol to indicate a positive
test result for glucose and the symbol to indicate a negative result. Discard the used glucose test strip.
2. Dip a fresh glucose test strip into the glucose/starch solution. Record the initial results in Table 1.
Discard the used glucose test strip.
3. Obtain a piece of dialysis tubing that has been soaked in water. The tubing should be soft and
pliable. Roll the tubing between your thumb and index finger to open it. Close one end of the tube
by knotting it or tying it off with string. This will form a bag.
4. Using a small funnel, pour 15 mL of glucose/starch solution in the dialysis bag. Smooth out the top
of the bag, running it between your thumb and index finger to expel the air. Tie off the open end of
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the bag. Leave enough room in the bag to allow for expansion. Record the initial color of the
glucose/starch solution in Table 1.
5. Immerse the dialysis bag in the solution in the cup. Make sure that the portion of the bag that
contains the glucose/starch solution is completely covered by the solution in the cup at all times.
6. Wait 30 minutes. While waiting, complete the following exercise.
Indicate on Figure 2 the
initial locations (inside or
outside of the bag) of all the
kinds of molecules that are
available for diffusion
through the dialysis
membrane.
For each of the molecules
you list on Figure 2, predict
in the space below their
direction of net (overall)
diffusion: into the bag, out of
the bag, both into and out of
the bag equally, or none (will
not diffuse across the dialysis
membrane). Give a reason for
each prediction.

Figure 2

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7. After 30 minutes, remove the bag from the cup, blot it on paper towel, and cut a slit in the bag large
enough to insert a glucose test strip. Fill in the final columns of Table 1.
Table 1

Solution Color
Location

Solution

Dialysis Bag

Glucose/
Starch

Cup

IKI

Initial

Final

Glucose Test Results

Initial

Final

Analysis of Results, Activity A: Diffusion

1. Compare your results with your predictions. Do you find any conflicts that would cause you to revise
your predictions? If so, explain.

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2. Does this activity account for the diffusion of all the molecules that you listed on Figure 2 and in
your predictions? If not, what data could have been collected to show the net direction of diffusion
of this molecule or molecules?

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3. What does your data tell you about the sizes of the molecules relative to the pore size of the
dialysis tubing?

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Activity B: Osmosis
Materials
Dialysis tubing, plastic cups, distilled water, funnel, sucrose solutions, paper towels, balance, calculator
(optional).

Introduction
In Activity B, you will investigate the influence (if any) of solute concentration on the net movement of
water molecules through a semipermeable membrane. The solute you will use is sucrose (cane or table
sugar) in the following molar concentrations:
0.0 M (distilled water)
0.2 M
0.4 M
0.6 M
0.8 M
1.0 M
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Procedure
Complete the following steps for each sucrose solution that you are assigned to test.
1. Pour 160170 mL of distilled water into a plastic cup. Label the cup with the concentration of
sucrose that you will test.
2. Obtain a piece of dialysis tubing that has been soaked in water. The tubing should be soft and
pliable. Roll the tubing between your thumb and index finger to open it. Close one end of the tube
by knotting it or tying it off with string. This will form a bag.
3. Using a small funnel, pour 25 mL of sucrose solution into the dialysis bag. Smooth out the top of the
bag, running it between your thumb and index finger to expel the air. Tie off the open end of the
bag. Leave enough room in the bag to allow for expansion.
4. Dry the bag on paper towels and then determine its mass. Record this as the initial mass in Table 2.
5. Immerse the dialysis bag in the water in the cup. Make sure that the portion of the bag that contains
the sucrose solution is completely covered by the water in the cup at all times. Wait 30 minutes
before continuing to the next step.
6. After 30 minutes, remove the bag from the cup and dry it on paper towels. Mass the bag and record
the final mass in Table 2. Finally, determine the change in the mass of the bag and record this data
in Table 2.
Table 2

Contents in
Dialysis Bag

Initial
Mass

Final
Mass

Change
in Mass

Percent
Change in Mass

0.0 M sucrose
(distilled water)
0.2 M sucrose
0.4 M sucrose
0.6 M sucrose
0.8 M sucrose
1.0 M sucrose

Analysis of Results, Activity B: Osmosis

1. Calculate the percent change in mass. Use the following formula. Record the results in Table 2.
Change in Mass
% Change in Mass =
100%
Initial Mass
2. Obtain and record the class averages for change in mass and percent change in mass.

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3. What does the change in mass indicate?

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4. Write a hypothesis that this experiment is designed to test.

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5. What variable is being tested in this experiment?

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6. List at least three variables (other than the one listed in your answer to #5) that could influence the
outcome of this experiment. Briefly describe the method of control used for each of these variables.

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7. Graph the percent change in mass for your group data and for the class averages. Title the graph
and supply the following information:
a. The independent variable is ________________________________________.
b. The dependent variable is __________________________________________.
Plot the independent variable on the x-axis, and the dependent variable on the y-axis.

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8. Explain any differences between the graph for your group and the graph of class averages.

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9. On the basis of your data and graph, has this experiment adequately tested the variable you listed
under #5?

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10. Do your results support your hypothesis, refute it, or require that you modify it?

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11. On the basis of your results, write a statement that expresses the relationship of solute concentration
and direction of net movement of water molecules in osmosis.

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12. In which, if any, of the experimental setups were the solutions in the bag and outside of the bag
isotonic to each other?

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13. If the experimental setup specified that only distilled water be used to fill the dialysis bag and that
the sucrose solutions be used to fill the cup, how would that change your results?

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14. When you drink a glass of water, most of it is absorbed by osmosis through cells lining your small
intestine. Drinking seawater can actually dehydrate the body. How?

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Background to Activity C
As you have seen, in animal cells, movement of H2 O into and out of a cell is influenced by the relative
concentration of solute on either side of the cell membrane. If water moves out of the cell, the cell will
shrink or crenate. If water moves into the cell it will swell and may even burst, or cytolyze. In plants, the
situation is complicated by the presence of a rigid or semi-rigid cell wall. Consider a potato cell
suspended in pure water. As water enters the cell, the cell membrane is pressed against the cell wall;
thus, a physical or hydrostatic pressure develops that opposes the entrance of additional water. When
the pressure inside the cell becomes great enough, no additional water can accumulate in the cell, even
though the cell still has a higher solute concentration than does pure water. Thus, movement of water
through plant tissue cannot be predicted simply by knowing the relative solute concentrations on either
side of the plant cell membrane. It is necessary to also account for any differences in pressure between
the two sides. The concept of water potential is used to combine the differences in solute concentration
and pressure to predict the direction in which water will diffuse through living plant tissues.
In a general sense, water potential is a quantification of the tendency of water to diffuse from one area to
another under a given set of perimeters. Traditionally, water potential is expressed in bars, a metric unit
of pressure equal to 10 newtons per cm2 or about 1 atmosphere. Water potential is abbreviated by the
Greek letter psi () and has two major components: solute potential (S ), which is dependent on solute
concentration, and pressure potential (p ), which results from the exertion of pressureeither positive
or negativeon a solution. Thus:

Water
Pressure
Solute
=
+
Potential
Potential
Potential
The water potential of pure water at 1 atmosphere is by definition zero. If we dissolve a substance in the
water, the water potential drops below zero. This may seem a bit counterintuitive, but remember that we
are talking about the tendency of water molecules to diffuse. This is driven by the kinetic energy of free
water molecules. As solute concentration goes up, water concentration goes down, there are fewer water
molecules available to diffuse, so water potential must go down. Notice that solute potential must be
either zero (for pure water), or negative, if the water contains a solute. (As solute concentration
increases, solute potential decreases.) Pressure potential can be positive, negative, or zero. Although
water diffuses in all directions, the net movement of water will always be from an area of higher
water potential to an area of lower water potential.
Returning to our example of a potato cell suspended in pure water: the system is open to the
atmosphere, so p = 0. We will assign a value of 9 for S . The initial conditions can then be described
as follows:
Pure Water
= p + S

or

=0+0=0

Potato Cell
= p + S

or

= 0 + (9) = 9

Since 9 is less than 0, water will diffuse into the cell.

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At equilibrium, the following condition exists:

Pure Water
= p + S

or

=0+0=0

Potato Cell
= p + S

or

= 9 + (9) = 0

Since 0 = 0, there will be no net movement of water into or out of the cell.
Suppose we add solute to the water in the cup until we produce the following initial conditions:
Water + Solute
or
= p + S

= 0 + (15) = 15

Potato Cell
= p + S

= 0 + (9) = 9

or

Since 15 is less than 9, water will diffuse out of the cell. If this continues, the cell will shrink and
the cell membrane may pull away from the cell wall, a condition known as plasmolysis. This often
injures the cell and may kill it.
If we know the molarity of a sucrose solution that will produce equilibrium between the solution and the
contents of the potato cell, we can determine the solute potential by using the following formula.
S = iCRT
where
i=

ionization constant (for sucrose, this value is 1)

C = molar concentration of sucrose per liter at equilibrium (must be determined experimentally)

R = pressure constant (0.0831 liter bar/mole K)
T = temperature of solution in kelvins (K = Celsius + 273)
Example: If C is experimentally determined to be 0.300 and T is 293 K, then
S = (1)(0.300 mole/liter)(0.0831 liter bar/mole K)(293 K)
S = 7.304 bars

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Activity C: Plant Cells and Water Potential

Materials
Plastic cups, distilled water, sucrose solutions, potato cores (or cork borer, scalpel, and potato),
plastic wrap, paper towels, balance, thermometer (optional), calculator (optional).

Introduction
In this activity, you will investigate water potential by immersing potato cores in sucrose solutions and
determining the change in mass, if any, of the cores. You will graph your data and use the graph to
determine a value for C. Using the experimentally determined value for C, you will then calculate a
value for S .
Your group will be assigned one or two sucrose solutions to test. For each solution you test, complete the
following procedure.

Procedure
1. Label a cup with the concentration of sucrose that you will test.
2. Use a cork borer to cut four cylinders of potato tissue from the potato. Do not stab your hand with
the cork borer. Trim both ends of each cylinder to remove the skin. Cut each cylinder into sections
that are approximately 3 cm in length. Use caution when slicing the cylinders so you do not injure
yourself or others.
3. If you cannot immediately use a balance to mass your cores, place them in a beaker or cup and cover
them with a lid or with plastic wrap. Why do you think this is necessary?
4. Use a balance to determine the total mass of all the potato sections. Record this as the initial mass
in Table 3 on page S-11.
5. Place all of the potato sections in the labeled cup. Pour 100 mL of the assigned sucrose solution into
the cup.
6. Cover the cup with plastic wrap. Why do you think this step is necessary?
7. If you have been assigned a second concentration of sucrose to test, repeat steps 16 using that solution.
8. Stop. Allow the potato sections to remain in the sucrose solution overnight. Then, proceed to Step 9.
Continue with Step 9 only after the potato sections have been in the sucrose solution overnight.
Perform these steps for each solution you are testing.
9. Record the temperature as given by your teacher.
Ambient temperature = ________ Celsius
10. Remove the potato sections from the sucrose solution. Blot them on paper towels to remove excess
solution. If you cannot immediately use a balance to mass your cores, cover them as before to
prevent evaporation.
11. Use a balance to determine the final mass. Determine the change in mass of the potato sections.
Record this data in Table 3 on page S-11.

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Table 3: Water Potential

Contents
in Cup

Temp.

Initial
Mass

Final
Mass

Change in
Mass

% Change % Change in Mass

in Mass
(Class Average)

0.0 M sucrose
(distilled water)
0.2 M sucrose
0.4 M sucrose
0.6 M sucrose
0.8 M sucrose
1.0 M sucrose

Analysis of Results, Activity C: Plant Cells and Water Potential

1. Calculate the percent change in mass of the potato sections and record this data in Table 3. Obtain
and record the class averages and record those as well.
2. Graph the class averages for percent change in mass. Plot the independent variable on the x-axis,
and the dependent variable on the y-axis.
3. On your completed graph, find the point where the line of your data crosses the 0 line (x-axis) of the
grid. This is the equilibrium point; at this point there is no net gain or loss of water from the potato
cells. Read the corresponding value of sucrose molarity for this point. This is the molar
concentration of sucrose that produces equilibrium. Below, record this concentration of sucrose as
your experimentally determined value for C. Convert ambient temperature from C to K.
C = _________ mole/liter
T = _________ K
4. Using the formula S = iCRT, calculate the solute potential at equilibrium. Show your calculations
in the space below.
S = _______ bars

5. Using the formula = p + S , give the following:

a. The water potential of the solution at equilibrium _______________
b. The water potential of the potato cells at equilibrium ____________
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6. A chef chops vegetables into a bowl of water. Would you expect the vegetable slices to gain or lose
water? Explain your answer in terms of water potential.

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7. Imagine that you are an agri-science consultant to a large corporate farm that raises 7,000 acres of
wheat on desert land adjoining the Mediterranean Sea. Just before the wheat matures, all the wells
used for irrigation water run dry. The farm manager wants to irrigate the fields with water drawn
from the Mediterranean. From previous tests, you know that the average solute potential of root
tissue taken from the wheat fields is 11.13 bars. You test the seawater and determine its solute
potential to be 24.26 bars. What will you advise the farm manager and why?

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8. A marine clam is mistakenly added to a freshwater aquarium. What will happen to the clam and why?

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9. A 1 cm diameter, 6 cm long core is removed from a carrot (see Figure 3).
The resulting hole is filled with corn syrup (highly concentrated sugar), and
a glass tube is inserted into the hole to make a watertight seal. The carrot is
suspended in a cup of pure water. Beginning with the carrot cells adjoining
the hole, and going out to the carrot epidermal cells exposed to the water,
describe what will happen to the carrot cells. Also, what will happen to the
level of liquid in the glass tube and why?

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Figure 3
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Label (y-axis): ___________________________________________

Title: ___________________________________________________________________________

Label (x-axis): ___________________________________________

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