Diffusion and Plasmolysis of Cells

Diffusion is the process of moving particles from an area of high

concentration to an area of low concentration. In cells, we need to diffuse
food into our cells and wastes out. Cells are vulnerable to the external
environment. One of the things that our cells are particularly vulnerable to is
the loss of water. Cells can shrink in size through a process called
plasmolysis. Plasmolysis can cause dehydration. Dehydration is dangerous
and being chronically dehydrated (going for a long time on not enough water)
can cause our immune system to slow down and make us more prone to
illness.
In this lab we will and think about some ways in which we cause our cells to
go through plasmolysis.
Hypotheses:
A. Predict whether glucose, starch and iodine are able to cross a
simulated semipermeable membrane by diffusion
Molecule
Glucose

Can it Cross a Membrane by

diffusion? (yes or no)
No

Starch

Yes

Iodine

Yes

B. Cell Simulation Activity. Predict what will happen to the weight of

each cell
Cell
One (cellular fluid inside, soda
outside)
Two (soda inside, cellular fluid
outside)

Weight (Go up, down ,stay the same)

Go up
Go Down

Background Questions:
1. What is the difference between osmosis, diffusion and facilitated
diffusion? Facilitated diffusion is diffusion using carrier or channel
proteins in the cell membrane that assist in the movement of molecules
across a concentration gradient. Osmosis has to do with the movement of
only water.

2. Explain what would happen to a cell if it were placed into a

hypertonic solution and then into a hypotonic solution? The
hypertonic solution would make the water flow into the
environment and out of the cell causing the cell to shrink in
size. Then the hypotonic solution would make the cell swell
with water and grow. So essentially the cell would go back to
its normal state.
3. What does Benedicts solution test for? How would you use
Benedicts solution? This tests for the presence of reducing
sugars, glucose and fructose. The colour change is from blue,
to brick red. You wold put drops of the solution in a substance
4. What is dialysis tubing? is a type of semi-permeable membrane
tubing used in separation techniques that facilitates the removal or
exchange of small molecules from macromolecules

Procedure:
A. Diffusion through a Membrane:
1. Obtain a small plastic cup. Go to the counter and put three
droppers full of starch and three droppers full of glucose into the cup.
2. Set up a dialysis tubing Cell like the one Ms. V demonstrated.
3. Fill the tubing cell with three droppers full of iodine. Tie the top
of the bag closed.
4. Rinse the cell bag under running water.
5. Make an initial observation in the date table 1.Record your
observations for the color of the cup solution and the color of the bag
under 0 minutes.
6. Check the bag and the cup every 10 minutes for 30 minutes and
record your observations in the data table.
7. After your last observation at 30 minutes, take out the bag and
cut the top off. Pour the contents of the bag into a test tube.
8. Add 15 drops of Benedicts solution to the tube. Place the tube in
a boiling water bath and watch for a color change to orange for a
positive glucose test. IF THE TUBE IS ANY OTHER COLOR THAN
ORANGE, THE RESULT IS NEGATIVE. Record the results in cell
membrane data table 1.
9. Record the results of the glucose test.
10.CLEAN ALL THE GLASSWARE AND THROW ALL YOUR TRASH
AWAY. CLEAN UP YOUR LAB AREA.
B. Cell Simulation

1. Go to the front of the room and make two cells from the dialysis
tubing in the beaker marked Cell Membranes.
2. Tie one end of the cell off with string and fill the inside of cell
number 1 with 3 droppers full of fluid from the beaker marked Cellular
Fluid.
3. Tie off the other end of the cell.
4. Measure the weight of the cell on the balance. Record the weight
of the bag in data table 2.
5. Record the color of the cellular fluid in the cell in the data table.
6. Place the cell into a clean plastic cup.
7. Fill the cup with just enough soda to cover the cell.
8. For cell number two, put three droppers full of soda into the cell
bag and tie it off securely.
9. Weigh cell number two on the balance and record its weight in
data table 2.
10.Place cell two in a plastic cup and this time cover the cell with
just enough cellular fluid solution.
11.Let the bags sit in the cups for 25 minutes.
12.While you are waiting, do the Plasmolysis demonstration below.
13.After 25 minutes, remove the bags from the cup and dry it off
with paper towel.
14.Record the color of the fluid in the bags and the color of the
fluids in the cups.
15.Weigh the cells on the balance and record the weights in data
table 2.
16.Wash out the cup and put it away and throw the cell away in the
trash.
17. Answer your hypothesis based on your observations and data in
your conclusion.
C. Plasmolysis Demonstration
1. Get a small piece of red onion skin. MAKE SURE ITS FROM THE
RED SIDE NOT THE CLEAR SIDE.
2. Place the skin onto a clean slide. Make a wet mount slide out of
the onion and add a cover slip.
3. Using good microscope technique, focus the slide on scanning
power.
4. Switch to low power and sharpen the focus.
5. Switch to high power and observe two or three onion cells.
6. Draw the two or three cells on white paper and be sure to
include the red portion of the cell membrane in your drawing.
7. Remove the cover slip from the slide.
8. Take the slide to the front and add a drop of saltwater to the
onion.
9. Replace the cover slip and let the slide sit for 5 minutes.
10.After 5 minutes, re-focus the slide and find three cells on high
power.
11.Draw two or three cells on high power. Be sure to draw the red
cell membranes and where they are located on the cell. Go to the data

section and write a description that details the effects of plasmolysis

you observed on onion cells.
12.Clean up your slide. PUT THE ONION SKIN IN THE TRASH, NOT
THE SINK. WASH AND DRY YOUR SLIDE BEFORE YOU PUT IT AWAY.

Data and Observations:

Data Table 1: Diffusion through a Membrane
Time (min)
0

Color of the Cup

Solution
White

Color of the Bag (inside

the bag)
Brown

10

Purple

Brown

20

Purple

Brown

30

Brow

Brown

Glucose Test Result

Test Tube Color: Reddish

Data Table 2: Cell Simulation

Initial Weight
(g)
Cell One
(fluid inside,
soda outside)
Cell Two
(soda inside,
cell fluid
outside)

Final Weight
(g)
5.5

Initial Color of
Cellular Fluid
Clear

Final Color of
Cellular Fluid
light Brown

6.3

Brown soda
color

Brown

5.5
5.7

Plasmolysis Demonstration: In the space below, describe the differences

you saw between the red onion cell membrane in freshwater versus the red
onion cell membrane in salt water:
Analysis:
1. Which of the molecules in the diffusion experiment were able to
go through the membrane? Explain why these were able to cross. The
Soda was able to go through the membrane turning the
cellular fluid a light brown. This was possible because the cell
membrane reacted to the soda in a way that it would seep
through the membrane.

2. Which of the molecules in the diffusion experiment were not

able to go through the membrane? Explain why these could not cross.
The cellular fluid was not able to get through the membrane,
This is because the cell membrane reacted in a way that did
NOT let the fluid through to the soda.
3. What type of solution was the soda compared to the cellular
fluid? (isotonic, hypotonic or hypertonic?) How do you know? The soda
was hypertonic and the cellular fluid was hypotonic. I know
this because of the way the different liquids reacted to the cell
membrane and how they got inside of it.
4. Why is dehydration through plasmolysis dangerous for cells
(look at your onion cells )? Water is absorbed from the vacuole
and ultimately kills the cells.
5. What will happen to your cells if you drink lots of soda or sugar
drinks and not much else? Your cells would begin to die which
would not be good for your body.
6. What effect does plasmolysis have on your kidneys? (Youll need
to look this up). In the human body, the kidneys provide the necessary
regulatory mechanism for the blood plasma and the concentration of water
and salt removed from the blood by the kidneys is controlled by a part of
the brain called the hypothalamus.
Conclusion: Re-state your hypotheses for activity A and B. Were your
predictions correct? Explain why understanding diffusion is important when
talking about living things.

Jonah:
If we experiment to see whether the soda and cellular fluid will diffuse then the
soda will be able to pass through the membrane however the cellular fluid will not
because the soda is acidic and will be able to pass through. When we tested if the
iodine, starch, or glucose will get past the membrane, only the iodine and starch
could pass over. The glucose will not diffuse because it is hard to digest. My
partners predictions were correct for test A however they were not very accurate
for Test B. For test B, the glucose did pass over the membrane however the
iodine and starch did not. It is very crucial to have diffusion in living organisms
because it is how things enter the body and how product are removed.
This was late because I was sick for a week.