CELL TRANSPORT Activity

Materials
Beakers Iodine solution
Starch solution Potassium permanganate crystals
Cellophane bag (ice candy wrapper) Tissue

Procedure:
Diffusion of Solid and Liquid
1. Drop crystals of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) into a beaker of water. Observe it for 10 minutes.
2. Describe the result.
3. Suggest a method of speeding up the rate of the diffusion of KMnO4 crystals.
4. Explain how it speeds up the diffusion process.
5. Place a drop of iodine solution in a cup of water. How many seconds did it take to completely
dissolve in the water?
6. Place a drop of iodine solution in the cold water. How many seconds did it take for the food coloring
to completely dissolve in the cold water?

Diffusion through a Membrane

1. Fill up the cellophane bag (ice candy wrapper) with starch solution about ¼ of its length and carefully
tie to close the opening of the wrapper. See to it that starch solution will not leak from either end.
2. Wash the cellophane bag to remove any starch adhering to its surface, then wipe excess water with
tissue paper.
3. Immerse the cellophane bag (with starch solution) in the beaker containing iodine solution.
4. Observe the set up and determine whether a blue black color is inside or outside the bag. How long
did it take for the color change to be observed?

Analysis:
1. How are cells affected by osmosis?
2. Why osmosis is considered a passive transport?
3. What is diffusion?
4. What factors affect diffusion?
5. What might happen to plant watered daily with salt solution?