Name_________________________________

OBSERVING OSMOSIS (GUMMI BEAR LAB)

Essential Question: How is the movement of water regulated?

Background Information:
 Membranes are SELECTIVELY PERMEABLE which means that some molecules can move
through the membrane while others cannot (depending on their size).
 Molecules want to move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
 When molecules move from high concentration to low concentration through a membrane, it is
called PASSIVE TRANSPORT and it requires NO ENERGY AT ALL. There are 2 different
types.
o DIFFUSION is the movement of any molecule from high to low
o OSMOSIS is the diffusion of water molecules from high to low
.

Question: Will soaking Gummy Bears in water and salt water affect their volume?

Prediction (Explain what you think will happen to Gummy Bears when soaked in water based on
the background information):
The gummy bears will grow bigger as they absorb the water.

Materials:
Dish Gummy bear Chrome book
Water Ruler (link to the data spreadsheet)
Salt solution Masking tape

Procedure:

Day One:

1. Use the tape to label your dish with your name & class period.
2. Use the ruler to find the length of your gummi bear (use cm).
3. Access the data spreadsheet on classroom.
4. Record the length of your gummi bear and type in for initial measurement.
5. The volume of your bear will be automatically calculated using a ratio formula in the
spreadsheet.
6. Fill your dish with 30 mL of water.
7. Put your bear in the water.
8. Set the dish where the teacher tells you.
Day Two:

1. Be very careful…your bear may be fragile!! Measure its length (in cm) while it is in the dish!
2. Access your copy of the data spreadsheet on classroom.
3. Type the length of your gummi bear in for water measurement.
4. The volume of your bear will be automatically calculated using a ratio formula in the
spreadsheet.
5. The % change in the bear’s volume will also be calculated on the spreadsheet. (If this is over
100, then the gummi bear grew bigger).
6. Carefully remove water!
7. Add 30 mL of salt water solution to your dish. Make sure that the salt water solution is mixed
well (shake/stir if necessary).
8. Complete Questions 1-3.

Questions:

1. What happened to the bear after soaking in water overnight? (reference what you saw and your data)
THE BEAR GREW BIGGER AS IT ABSORBED THE WATER.

2. Why do you think this happened?

THERE WAS MORE WATER OUTSIDE THE BEAR IN THE DISH (HIGH
CONCENTRATION) AND LOW WATER INSIDE THE DISH (LOW CONCENTRATION).
THE WATER MOVED FROM HIGH TO LOW INTO THE BEAR BY
OSMOSIS/DIFFUSION CAUSING THE BEAR TO INCREASE IN SIZE.

3. What do you think will happen to the bear when you let it soak in salt water overnight?
Explain your answer.
THE BEAR WILL SHRINK SMALLER. THE SALT WILL MAKE THE OUTSIDE OF THE
BEAR THE LOW CONCENTRATION OF WATER AND INSIDE THE BEAR IS THE HIGH
CONCENTRATION OF WATER. THE WATER WILL MOVE FROM HIGH TO LOW OUT
OF THE BEAR BY OSMOSIS, CAUSING IT TO SHRINK.

Day 3:

1. Be very careful…your bear may be fragile!! Measure its length (in cm) while it is in the dish!
2. Access your copy of the data spreadsheet on classroom.
3. Type the length of your gummi bear in for the salt measurement.
4. The volume of your bear will be automatically calculated using a ratio formula in the
spreadsheet.
5. The % change in the bear’s volume will also be calculated on the spreadsheet. (If it is over 100,
then the gummi bear grew bigger, if it is under 100% then your gummi bear lost water and got
smaller).
Data:
Solution Length (cm) Volume (cm3) % Change
Day 1: Initial
N/A
(no solution)
Day 2: Water

Day 3: Salt solution

Conclusion/Analysis:
1. In the table below complete the following tasks:
a. Finish the diagram representing the movement of molecules that took place. Make sure
you label where the water has a high concentration (H) and where the water has a lower
concentration (L) and then draw an arrow to show the movement of water.
b. Explain the diagram using the data from the data table and the terms high concentration,
low concentration, and osmosis.

Diagram Description

THERE WAS MORE WATER OUTSIDE THE

BEAR IN THE DISH (HIGH
CONCENTRATION) AND LOW WATER
H INSIDE THE BEAR (LOW
L
CONCENTRATION). THE WATER MOVED
FROM HIGH TO LOW INTO THE BEAR BY
OSMOSIS/DIFFUSION CAUSING THE BEAR
TO INCREASE IN SIZE.
30 ML PURE WATER IN DISH

THE BEAR WILL SHRINK SMALLER.

THE SALT WILL MAKE THE OUTSIDE
OF THE BEAR THE LOW
L CONCENTRATION OF WATER AND
INSIDE THE BEAR IS THE HIGH
H CONCENTRATION OF WATER. THE
WATER WILL MOVE FROM HIGH TO
LOW OUT OF THE BEAR BY OSMOSIS,
CAUSING IT TO SHRINK.

30 ML SALT SOLUTION IN DISH