Osmosis Lab Report
Introduction:
There are two main types of passive transport; diffusion and filtration (Marieb 68). In this experiment the focus is the importance of diffusion, the random movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration. Osmosis is a special kind of diffusion where water moves through a selectively permeable membrane (a membrane that only allows certain molecules to diffuse). Diffusion or osmosis occurs until dynamic equilibrium is reached, or has been reached. When equilibrium is reached, it means that the concentrations in both areas are equal and no new movement will occur from one area to another. This is where the terms like isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic come into play. When cells retain their normal size and shape in isotonic solutions (same solute/water concentration as inside cells; no net osmosis) …show more content…
In hypertonic solutions, the cells lose water by osmosis and shrink in a hypertonic solution (contains a higher concentration of solutes than are present inside the cells) (Marieb 60). When the cells take on water by osmosis until they become bloated and burst (lyse) in a hypotonic solution (contains a lower concentration of solutes than are present in cells) (Marieb 60). There is always constant movement across the plasma membrane, also known as selectively permeable, a barrier that allows certain substances to pass, while not allowing others to do the same. Selectively permeable allows nutrients to enter the cell, while being able to keep out the substances they do not want coming in. The plasma membrane is a physical barrier to free diffusion because of its hydrophobic core (Marieb 69). The molecule will only be able to diffuse through the membrane if the molecule is lipid soluble, small enough to pass through channels, or assisted by a carrier molecule (Marieb 69). When molecules are diffused by a solvent (water) through a membrane, that is
There are two main types of passive transport; diffusion and filtration (Marieb 68). In this experiment the focus is the importance of diffusion, the random movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration. Osmosis is a special kind of diffusion where water moves through a selectively permeable membrane (a membrane that only allows certain molecules to diffuse). Diffusion or osmosis occurs until dynamic equilibrium is reached, or has been reached. When equilibrium is reached, it means that the concentrations in both areas are equal and no new movement will occur from one area to another. This is where the terms like isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic come into play. When cells retain their normal size and shape in isotonic solutions (same solute/water concentration as inside cells; no net osmosis) …show more content…
In hypertonic solutions, the cells lose water by osmosis and shrink in a hypertonic solution (contains a higher concentration of solutes than are present inside the cells) (Marieb 60). When the cells take on water by osmosis until they become bloated and burst (lyse) in a hypotonic solution (contains a lower concentration of solutes than are present in cells) (Marieb 60). There is always constant movement across the plasma membrane, also known as selectively permeable, a barrier that allows certain substances to pass, while not allowing others to do the same. Selectively permeable allows nutrients to enter the cell, while being able to keep out the substances they do not want coming in. The plasma membrane is a physical barrier to free diffusion because of its hydrophobic core (Marieb 69). The molecule will only be able to diffuse through the membrane if the molecule is lipid soluble, small enough to pass through channels, or assisted by a carrier molecule (Marieb 69). When molecules are diffused by a solvent (water) through a membrane, that is