Osmosis‌‌Workbook‌ 
 
Record‌‌the‌‌definitions‌‌for‌‌the‌‌following‌‌terms:‌ 
 
cell‌‌m embrane‌  the‌‌s emipermeable‌‌m embrane‌‌s urrounding‌‌the‌‌c ytoplasm‌‌of‌‌a‌‌c ell.‌ 
 

concentration‌  the‌‌m easure‌‌of‌‌the‌‌amount‌‌of‌‌a‌‌s ub-component‌‌in‌‌a‌‌s olution.‌  

diffusion‌  ‌the‌‌net‌‌m ovement‌‌of‌‌m olecules‌‌from‌‌an‌‌area‌‌where‌‌they‌‌are‌‌at‌‌a‌ 

higher‌‌c oncentration‌‌to‌‌areas‌‌where‌‌they‌‌are‌‌at‌‌a‌‌lower‌‌c oncentration.‌ 

dynamic‌‌equilibrium‌  the‌‌s tate‌‌in‌‌which‌‌c ontinuous‌‌action‌‌results‌‌in‌‌balanced‌‌equations.‌ 

osmosis‌  the‌‌passive‌‌diffusion‌‌of‌‌water‌‌across‌‌m embrane‌  

semipermeable‌  some‌‌particles‌‌pass‌‌through‌‌the‌ 
membrane‌  membrane‌‌easily‌‌while‌‌others‌ 
cannot.‌  

solute‌  the‌‌m inor‌‌c omponent‌‌in‌‌a‌‌s olution,‌‌dissolved‌‌in‌‌the‌‌s olvent.‌ 

solvent‌  able‌‌to‌‌dissolve‌‌other‌‌s ubstances.‌ 

 

solution‌  A‌‌type‌‌of‌‌homogenous‌‌m ixture‌‌in‌‌which‌‌the‌‌particles‌‌of‌‌one‌‌or‌‌m ore‌ 

substances‌‌(the‌‌s olute)‌‌are‌‌distributed‌‌uniformly‌‌throughout‌‌another‌ 
substance‌‌(the‌‌s olvent).‌ 
 
Directions:‌‌Follow‌‌the‌‌instructions‌‌to‌‌go‌‌through‌‌the‌‌simulation.‌‌Respond‌‌to‌‌the‌‌questions‌‌and‌ 
prompts‌‌in‌‌the‌‌orange‌‌boxes.‌ 
 
Prior‌‌Knowledge‌‌Q uestions‌‌(Do‌‌these‌‌BEFORE‌‌using‌‌the‌‌G izmo.)‌  
 
1. Suppose‌‌y ou‌‌were‌‌trapped‌‌on‌‌a‌‌desert‌‌island‌‌with‌‌no‌‌s ources‌‌of‌‌fresh‌‌water.‌‌Should‌‌y ou‌‌drink‌‌water‌‌from‌ 
the‌‌ocean?‌‌Explain‌‌why‌‌or‌‌why‌‌not.‌ 
 
No,‌‌s ea‌‌water‌‌has‌‌a‌‌m uch‌‌higher‌‌c oncentration‌‌of‌‌s alt‌‌in‌‌c omparison‌‌to‌‌human‌‌c ells.‌‌If‌‌s ea‌ 
water‌‌is‌‌c onsumed‌‌c ells‌‌will‌‌rapidly‌‌lose‌‌water‌‌as‌‌the‌‌body‌‌is‌‌a‌‌s emipermeable‌‌m embrane,‌ 
as‌‌a‌‌result‌‌osmosis‌‌will‌‌take‌‌place‌‌and‌‌water‌‌will‌‌exit‌‌the‌‌c ells.‌‌This‌‌will‌‌c ause‌‌dehydration,‌ 
along‌‌with‌‌the‌‌c ells‌‌to‌‌s hrink.‌ 
 
2. What‌‌do‌‌y ou‌‌think‌‌would‌‌happen‌‌if‌‌y ou‌‌watered‌‌y our‌‌houseplants‌‌with‌‌s alt‌‌water?‌ 
 
If‌‌house‌‌plants‌‌were‌‌watered‌‌with‌‌s alt‌‌water‌‌eventually‌‌they‌‌would‌‌wilt‌‌and‌‌die.‌‌This‌‌is‌‌due‌‌to‌ 
the‌‌fact‌‌that‌‌s alt‌‌water‌‌is‌‌hypertonic,‌‌resulting‌‌in‌‌the‌‌plant‌‌c ell‌‌diffusing‌‌by‌‌osmosis‌‌to‌‌reduce‌ 
the‌‌c oncentration‌‌of‌‌the‌‌given‌‌s alt‌‌s olution.‌ 
 
Gizmo‌‌Warm-up‌ 

 
 
A‌‌cell‌‌membrane‌‌‌is‌‌a‌‌thin‌‌“skin”‌‌that‌‌s urrounds‌‌a‌‌c ell.‌‌It‌‌is‌‌a‌ 
semipermeable‌‌membrane‌,‌‌which‌‌m eans‌‌that‌‌s ome‌‌particles‌‌pass‌ 
through‌‌the‌‌m embrane‌‌easily‌‌while‌‌others‌‌c annot.‌  
 
The‌‌O smosis‌‌‌G izmo‌‌portrays‌‌a‌‌c ell‌‌(red‌‌s quare)‌‌in‌‌a‌‌s olution‌‌of‌‌purple‌ 
solute‌‌‌particles‌‌dissolved‌‌in‌‌green‌‌solvent‌‌‌particles.‌‌Press‌‌Play‌‌‌(‌ ‌)‌ 
and‌‌observe.‌ 
 
1. Which‌‌particles‌‌c an‌‌pass‌‌through‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌m embrane?‌ 
 
Solvent‌‌c an‌‌pass‌‌through‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌m embrane.‌ 
 
2. Which‌‌particles‌‌c annot‌‌pass‌‌through‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌m embrane?‌  Solute‌‌c an‌‌not‌‌pass‌‌through‌‌the‌ 
cell‌‌m embrane‌‌(to‌‌large).‌ 
 
3. Click‌‌Reset‌‌‌(‌ ),‌‌and‌‌then‌‌c lick‌‌Play‌‌again.‌‌What‌‌do‌‌y ou‌‌notice‌‌about‌‌the‌‌s ize‌‌of‌‌the‌‌c ell?‌ 
 
The‌‌c ell‌‌follows‌‌a‌‌pattern‌‌of‌‌increasing‌ ‌and‌ ‌decreasing‌‌in‌‌s ize.‌ 
 
 
Activity‌‌A:‌   Get‌‌the‌‌G izmo‌‌ready‌:‌  
 
Observing‌  ● Click‌‌Reset‌.‌‌Set‌‌the‌‌Initial‌‌cell‌‌volume‌‌to‌‌40%.‌ 
osmosis‌  ● You‌‌will‌‌need‌‌a‌‌c alculator‌‌for‌‌this‌‌activity.‌ 

 
Question:‌‌How‌‌do‌‌solute‌‌concentrations‌‌affect‌‌the‌‌volume‌‌of‌‌a‌‌cell?‌ 
 
1. Observe‌:‌‌Use‌‌the‌‌Solute‌‌outside‌‌s lider‌‌to‌‌c hange‌‌the‌‌c oncentration‌‌of‌‌s olute‌‌particles‌‌outside‌‌the‌‌c ell.‌ 
Click‌‌Play‌.‌‌In‌‌each‌‌c ase,‌‌focus‌‌on‌‌whether‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌gets‌‌bigger‌‌or‌‌s maller.‌ 
 
A. In‌‌what‌‌s ituation‌‌does‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌get‌‌larger?‌  Less‌‌s olute‌‌outside‌‌the‌‌c ell.‌ 

B. In‌‌what‌‌s ituation‌‌does‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌get‌‌s maller?‌   More‌‌s olute‌‌inside‌‌the‌‌c ell.‌ 

 
2. Calculate‌:‌‌The‌‌concentration‌‌‌of‌‌a‌‌s olute‌‌is‌‌the‌‌amount‌‌of‌‌s olute‌‌particles‌‌in‌‌a‌‌given‌‌amount‌‌of‌‌s olvent.‌‌To‌ 
calculate‌‌percentage‌‌c oncentration,‌‌divide‌‌the‌‌number‌‌of‌‌s olute‌‌particles‌‌by‌‌the‌‌total‌‌number‌‌of‌‌particles‌ 
(solute‌‌+‌‌s olvent),‌‌and‌‌then‌‌m ultiply‌‌by‌‌100:‌ 

%‌‌c oncentration‌‌=‌‌(‌s olute‌‌÷‌‌total‌‌particles‌)‌‌×‌‌100‌ 

 
Select‌‌the‌‌DESCRIPTION‌‌tab.‌‌Click‌‌Reset‌.‌‌Set‌‌the‌‌Solute‌‌outside‌‌‌to‌‌10‌‌and‌‌c heck‌‌that‌‌the‌‌Initial‌‌cell‌ 
volume‌‌is‌‌40%.‌‌(Note:‌‌The‌‌c ell‌‌v olume‌‌is‌‌expressed‌‌as‌‌a‌‌percentage‌‌of‌‌the‌‌c ontainer‌‌s ize.)‌ 
 
A. How‌‌m any‌‌s olute‌‌particles‌‌are‌‌found‌‌inside‌‌the‌‌c ell?‌  5‌  ‌O utside?‌  10‌ 

B. How‌‌m any‌‌s olvent‌‌particles‌‌are‌‌found‌‌inside‌‌the‌  64‌  Outside?‌  122‌ 

cell?‌ 

 
 C. What‌‌is‌‌the‌‌total‌‌number‌‌of‌‌particles‌‌inside‌‌the‌‌c ell?‌   69‌  Outside?‌  132‌ 
 
D. What‌‌is‌‌the‌‌%‌‌c oncentration‌‌of‌‌s olute‌‌inside‌‌the‌‌c ell?‌  7.25%‌ 

E. What‌‌is‌‌the‌‌%‌‌c oncentration‌‌of‌‌s olute‌‌outside‌‌the‌‌c ell?‌  7.58%‌ 

 
3. Observe‌:‌‌Click‌‌Play‌,‌‌and‌‌observe‌‌the‌‌numbers‌‌s hown‌‌on‌‌the‌‌DESCRIPTION‌‌pane.‌‌How‌‌does‌‌each‌ 
number‌‌c hange‌‌over‌‌time?‌‌Write‌‌“increases,”‌ ‌“decreases,”‌‌or‌‌“stays‌‌the‌‌s ame”‌‌(or‌‌“same”)‌‌in‌‌each‌‌s pace.‌ 
 
● Solute‌‌particles‌‌outside?‌  stays‌‌the‌‌s ame‌   ● Solute‌‌particles‌‌inside‌  stays‌‌the‌‌s ame‌  

● Solvent‌‌particles‌‌outside?‌  increases‌  ● Solvent‌ ‌particles‌‌inside?‌  decreases‌ 

● Solute‌‌c oncentration‌‌outside? decreases‌  ● Solute‌‌c oncentration‌‌inside?‌  increases‌ 

 
 
4. Observe‌:‌‌Wait‌‌until‌‌the‌‌numbers‌‌are‌‌not‌‌c hanging‌‌v ery‌‌m uch.‌‌What‌‌do‌‌y ou‌‌notice‌‌about‌‌the‌‌s olute‌ 
concentrations‌‌inside‌‌and‌‌outside‌‌of‌‌the‌‌c ell?‌  
 
The‌‌s tate‌‌of‌‌the‌‌s olute‌‌c oncentrations‌‌inside‌‌and‌‌outside‌‌of‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌are‌‌c ontinuous‌‌action‌ 
which‌‌results‌‌in‌‌balanced‌‌equations.‌‌The‌‌s ize‌‌of‌‌the‌‌c ells‌‌inside,‌‌as‌‌well‌‌as,‌‌outside‌‌of‌‌the‌ 
solute‌‌c oncentration‌‌have‌‌begun‌‌to‌‌m ove‌‌at‌ ‌m uch‌‌s lower‌‌pace‌‌(slow‌‌down).‌ 
   
‌This‌‌s ituation‌‌is‌‌c alled‌‌dynamic‌‌equilibrium‌.‌ 
 
5. Experiment‌:‌‌Click‌‌Reset‌.‌‌Check‌‌that‌‌the‌‌Solute‌‌outside‌‌is‌‌10‌‌and‌‌the‌‌Initial‌‌cell‌‌volume‌‌is‌‌40%.‌‌To‌ 
calculate‌‌the‌‌s olvent‌‌c oncentration,‌‌divide‌‌the‌‌number‌‌of‌‌s olvent‌‌particles‌‌by‌‌the‌‌total‌‌number‌‌of‌‌particles,‌ 
and‌‌then‌‌m ultiply‌‌by‌‌100.‌‌(Note:‌‌The‌‌G izmo‌‌only‌‌displays‌‌the‌‌s olute‌‌c oncentrations.)‌ 
 
A. What‌‌is‌‌the‌‌s olvent‌‌c oncentration‌‌inside‌‌the‌‌c ell?‌  5.75%‌ 

B. What‌‌is‌‌the‌‌s olvent‌‌c oncentration‌‌outside‌‌the‌‌c ell?‌  8.78%‌ 

C. Where‌‌is‌‌there‌‌a‌‌higher‌‌s olvent‌‌c oncentration?‌  Higher‌‌c oncentration‌‌outside‌‌the‌ 

cell‌ 
 
D. Click‌‌Play‌.‌‌Do‌‌m ost‌‌of‌‌the‌‌s olvent‌‌particles‌‌m ove‌‌into‌‌or‌‌out‌‌of‌‌the‌‌c ell?‌‌(Hint:‌‌Does‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌expand‌  
or‌‌s hrink?)‌   Most‌‌of‌‌the‌‌s olvent‌‌particles‌‌m ove‌‌out‌‌of‌‌the‌‌c ell,‌‌therefore‌‌the‌‌c ell‌ 
shrinks.‌ 
 
6. Experiment‌:‌‌Click‌‌Reset‌,‌‌and‌‌s et‌‌the‌‌Solute‌‌outside‌‌to‌‌1.‌ 
 
A. What‌‌is‌‌the‌‌s olvent‌‌c oncentration‌‌inside‌‌the‌‌c ell?‌  5.56%‌ 

B. What‌‌is‌‌the‌‌s olvent‌‌c oncentration‌‌outside‌‌the‌‌c ell?‌  0.99%‌ 

C. Where‌‌is‌‌there‌‌a‌‌higher‌‌s olvent‌‌c oncentration?‌  Higher‌‌s olvent‌‌c oncentration‌ 

inside‌ ‌of‌‌the‌‌c ell.‌ 

 
 D. Do‌‌y ou‌‌think‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌will‌‌get‌‌larger‌‌or‌‌s maller?‌   Larger‌‌(expand)‌ 

E. Click‌‌Play‌‌to‌‌c onfirm‌‌y our‌‌predictions.‌‌Were‌‌y ou‌  Yes,‌‌m y‌‌prediction‌‌that‌‌the‌ 

correct?‌  cell‌‌would‌‌become‌‌larger‌ 
was‌‌c orrect.‌ 
 
7. Summarize‌:‌‌You‌‌have‌‌observed‌‌examples‌‌of‌‌osmosis‌—the‌‌diffusion‌‌‌of‌‌a‌‌s olvent‌‌(such‌‌as‌‌water)‌‌across‌ 
a‌‌s emipermeable‌‌m embrane.‌‌Summarize‌‌what‌‌y ou‌‌have‌‌observed‌‌by‌‌filling‌‌in‌‌the‌‌blanks‌‌in‌‌the‌‌following‌ 
paragraph:‌ 
 
During‌‌osmosis,‌‌s olvent‌‌particles‌‌m ove‌‌from‌‌an‌‌area‌‌of‌   High‌  concentration‌‌to‌‌an‌‌area‌‌of‌  
 

Low‌  concentration.‌‌When‌‌there‌‌is‌‌a‌‌higher‌‌c oncentration‌‌of‌‌s olvent‌‌particles‌‌inside‌‌the‌‌c ell,‌ 

 

most‌‌s olvent‌‌particles‌‌will‌  inside‌  ‌the‌‌c ell‌‌and‌‌the‌‌c ell‌  get‌  .‌‌When‌‌there‌‌is‌‌a‌‌higher‌ 

move‌  will‌  larger‌ 
(expa‌
nd)‌ 
 
 

concentration‌‌of‌‌s olvent‌‌particles‌‌outside‌‌the‌‌c ell,‌‌m ost‌‌s olvent‌‌particles‌‌will‌  outside‌ 

move‌ 
 

the‌‌c ell‌‌and‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌will‌  get‌‌s maller‌  .‌ 

(shink)‌ 
 
 
 

Activity‌‌B:‌   Get‌‌the‌‌G izmo‌‌ready‌:‌  

  ● Click‌‌Reset‌.‌ 
Effect‌‌of‌‌cell‌  ● Set‌‌the‌‌Solute‌‌outside‌‌‌to‌‌5.‌ 
volume‌  ● Set‌‌the‌‌Initial‌‌cell‌‌volume‌‌‌to‌‌40%.‌ 

 
Question:‌‌How‌‌does‌‌changing‌‌the‌‌cell‌‌volume‌‌affect‌‌solute‌‌concentrations?‌ 
 
1. Experiment‌:‌‌Select‌‌the‌‌BAR‌‌CHART‌‌tab,‌‌and‌‌turn‌‌on‌‌Show‌‌numerical‌‌values‌.‌  
 
A. Based‌‌on‌‌s olute‌‌c oncentrations,‌‌do‌‌y ou‌‌expect‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌to‌  Swell‌ 
swell‌‌or‌‌s hrink?‌ 

B. Click‌‌Play‌,‌‌and‌‌observe.‌‌Was‌‌y our‌‌prediction‌‌c orrect?‌  Yes,‌ ‌m y‌‌prediction‌‌that‌‌the‌ 

cell‌‌would‌‌s well‌‌was‌ 
correct.‌ 
 
2. Observe‌:‌‌Click‌‌Reset‌.‌‌M ove‌‌the‌‌Initial‌‌cell‌‌volume‌‌‌s lider‌‌back‌‌and‌‌forth.‌‌How‌‌does‌‌the‌‌initial‌‌c ell‌‌v olume‌ 
affect‌‌the‌‌s olute‌‌c oncentrations‌‌inside‌‌and‌‌outside‌‌the‌‌c ell?‌  
 

 
 As‌‌the‌‌initial‌‌c ell‌‌v olume‌‌increases‌‌the‌‌c oncentration‌‌inside‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌decreases,‌‌while‌‌the‌ 
outside‌‌c oncentration‌‌of‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌increases.‌  
 
3. Experiment‌:‌‌With‌‌the‌‌Solute‌‌outside‌‌‌s et‌‌to‌‌5,‌‌predict‌‌whether‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌will‌‌s well,‌‌s hrink,‌‌or‌‌s tay‌‌the‌‌s ame‌ 
with‌‌each‌‌of‌‌the‌‌following‌‌Initial‌‌cell‌‌volume‌‌s ettings.‌‌Then‌‌use‌‌the‌‌G izmo‌‌to‌‌c heck‌‌each‌‌prediction.‌ 
 
Predictions:‌  20%‌  Swell‌  50%‌   Shrink‌  60%‌  Shrink‌ 

Actual‌‌results‌  20%‌  Swell‌  50%‌   Shrink‌  60%‌  Shrink‌ 

 
4. Analyze‌:‌‌Why‌‌do‌‌s olvent‌‌particles‌‌flow‌‌into‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌when‌‌the‌‌initial‌‌v olume‌‌is‌‌below‌‌50%?‌  
 
If‌‌s olvent‌‌particles‌‌are‌‌flowing‌‌into‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌when‌‌the‌‌initial‌‌v olume‌‌is‌‌below‌‌50%,‌‌indicates‌‌that‌ 
the‌‌outside‌‌of‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌has‌‌a‌‌higher‌‌c oncentration.‌‌This‌‌results‌‌in‌‌particles‌‌m oving‌‌from‌‌an‌ 
area‌‌of‌‌high‌‌c oncentration‌‌to‌‌an‌‌area‌‌of‌‌lower‌‌c oncentration‌‌(known‌‌as‌‌an‌‌osmotic‌‌gradient).‌  
 
5. Extend‌‌y our‌‌thinking‌:‌‌In‌‌the‌‌O smosis‌‌‌G izmo,‌‌the‌‌c ell‌‌is‌‌placed‌‌in‌‌a‌‌v ery‌‌s mall‌‌c hamber.‌‌Suppose‌‌a‌‌c ell‌‌is‌ 
placed‌‌in‌‌a‌‌large‌‌c ontainer‌‌of‌‌water‌‌with‌‌a‌‌v ery‌‌low‌‌s olute‌‌c oncentration.‌‌What‌‌do‌‌y ou‌‌think‌‌would‌‌happen?‌ 
Explain‌‌y our‌‌answer.‌ 
 
If‌‌a‌‌c ell‌‌is‌‌placed‌‌into‌‌a‌‌large‌‌c ontainer‌‌of‌‌water‌‌with‌‌a‌‌v ery‌‌low‌‌s olute‌‌c oncentration‌‌the‌ 
solution‌‌will‌‌be‌‌hypotonic‌‌(lower‌‌osmotic‌‌pressure‌ ‌in‌‌nature.‌‌The‌‌water‌‌will‌‌enter‌‌inside‌‌the‌ 
cell‌‌through‌‌a‌‌s emi-permeable‌‌m embrane‌‌of‌‌c ell‌‌and‌‌will‌‌s well.‌