Experiment 3.

Osmosis demonstration using a biological membrane

Each group will use a shelless chicken egg. The shell has been dissolved away leaving the shell membrane and the
rest of the egg intact. The membrane selectively permits some kinds of molecules to pass through while preventing
others from doing so.

Procedure:
1. Carefully (fragile!) remove the shelless egg from the container and gently pat it dry to remove any excess surface
water. Immediately weigh the egg, record the weight and place it into the beaker containing corn syrup.
2. Repeat the drying and weighing process after 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes in the corn syrup. Record the results of
each weighing in Table 3 (below).
Note: When the egg is first placed in the corn syrup, half of the egg will not be submerged. GENTLY roll the egg with the plastic spoon to make
certain that all of the membrane is in contact with the syrup.

Table 3 Weights for Shelless Chicken Egg

Time Intervals (min.)
0 15 30 45
Initial Weight (g) 98 98 98 98
(Does not change)
New Weight (g) ----- 90 84 79

Net Gain / Loss(g) ----- -8 -14 -19

% Change in mass* ----- -8.16% -14.28% -19.38%

*Percent change in mass = (new wt initial wt) / initial wt X 100

Questions:
1. Was there a change in the weight of the egg? Briefly explain what happened and why using the terms
hypertonic, hypotonic and osmosis.

2. The diagram below represents the egg and the beaker in which it was placed. Label the solution inside the
egg and the solution inside the beaker as hypertonic or hypotonic. Using an arrow, indicate the
direction in which water flowed: into, or out of the cell (egg).

Beaker

Egg