API Grisham Osmosis Lab

Outline for Lab Write-Up

Refer to Exercise 5 PowerPoint Notes

I. Problem/Question (6 pts)

State what question or problem you are trying to answer. This should be written in complete sentences.

II. Hypothesis (6 pts)

This is a statement about what you think will happen. It is a prediction about the results or findings. This should be written
in a complete sentence. There is no right or wrong answer here. It is okay to predict incorrectly!

III. Materials (8 pts)

Make a LIST of the materials used. Be sure to include HOW MUCH of items needed. This is like a list of ingredients for a
recipe.

IV. Procedure (Experiment Design) (8 pts)

State what you did to solve the problem. You may make a list or write in sentences, your choice. You should write the
“instructions” in a way that anyone, even someone who has never done the lab, can follow, understand, and repeat your
experiment. Refer to your lab manual for the experiment. You do not need to write the experiment “word-for-word” from
your lab manual. You may use your own words.

V. Data Collection (10 pts)

a) Here you will use a table &/or chart to record the data that you collect. See Table 5.2 in the lab manual for an example
chart for this lab. Be sure to include units in your table/chart.

VI. Results (30 pts)

a) Make a graph of your data collected. You must use graph paper! Be sure to label the graph correctly. For this lab you will
make a “Weight vs Time Graph”. Weight of the bag will go on the “y-axis” and Time will go on the “x-axis”.
b) You will also state “in words” what happened and what the graph shows.
c) ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS in this section: (YES YOU NEED TO WRITE THE QUESTION IN YOUR LAB REPORT
AND THEN ANSWER THE QUESTION).
i) Describe how the weight/mass of the bag changed over time.
ii) Describe how the color of the beaker water changed over time.

VII. Conclusions (30 pts)

a) This section should be written in complete sentences.

b) You will re-state your initial problem/question.
c) State what happened based on your data and results.
d) Did you predict (or hypothesize) correctly?
e) You also need to address any problems that occurred during the lab that would cause your data and results to be
incorrect.
f) In addition, state how you would expand or improve on this lab if you had to do it again. What would you do differently to
make it a better lab or save some time.
g) ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS in this section: (YES YOU NEED TO WRITE THE QUESTION IN YOUR LAB REPORT
AND THEN ANSWER THE QUESTION).
i) Identify the solute and solvent in this experiment.
ii) Why was the red dye added to the salt solution?
iii) Which direction did osmosis occur? (into or out of the dialysis bag or not at all)
iv) Which direction did diffusion of the solutes occur? (into or out of the bag or not at all)
v) Did the 2 solutions (beaker water and dialysis bag contents) become isotonic? Explain.
vi) In this experiment, what represented the
- Plasma membrane
- Intracellular fluid
- Extracellular fluid
API Grisham Osmosis Lab
EXAMPLE
I. Problem: What happens to the temperature of ice when salt is added?

II. Hypothesis: I predict that when salt is added to ice, the temperature of the ice will increase since ice melts when
ice and salt are mixed.
III. Materials:

20 g NaCl (salt) 150 mL Ice 1 – Thermometer

1 – Timer 1 – 250 mL Beaker 1 – Electronic Balance
IV. Procedure:

Fill a 250 mL beaker with 150 mL of ice.

Place the thermometer in the beaker. Wait about 2 minutes and record the temperature.
Weigh out 20 grams of NaCl and pour it in the beaker with ice. Once you add the salt, begin the timer.
Record the temperature of the ice and salt mixture every 30 seconds for 5 minutes.
V. Data Collection:

Time (seconds) Temperature (°C)

0 0
30 0
60 -1
90 -1
120 -2
150 -3
180 -3
210 -4
240 -6
270 -8
300 -12
VI. Results:

Over time, the temperature of the ice decreased.

Temperature vs. Time

0
0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300
Temperature (Celsius)

-2
-4
-6
-8
-10
-12
-14
Time (Seconds)

VII. Conclusions:

The original question was what happens to the temperature of ice when salt is added. The results showed that
while the ice melted the temperature actually when down rather than increasing as predicted.
During the experiment, we forgot to start the timer as soon as we added the salt, so our times are about 10
seconds off from what they should be.
As an extension to this lab, determining what will happen when different amounts of salt are added to the same
amount of ice could prove useful. While 20 grams of salt made the ice melt as well as drop the temperature, would 10
grams of salt also have shown the same results? Does the amount of salt added make a difference in terms of the
temperature?