Name: Keysia Miller Date: November 17, 2022

EXPERIMENT 6 (MODULE 1: SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE 3.2)

Topic: Osmosis
Aim: To investigate the effects on plant cells immersion into solutions of different water
potentials

Theory
Osmosis is the movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane from an area of
high water potential (low solute concentration) to an area of low water potential (high solute
concentration). This process, which is necessary for all living things to survive, helps keep the
balance of water and solutes in cells. Equal water potentials and solute particle counts
characterize isotonic solutions. Unless pressure is applied, there is no net movement of water
over a membrane separating two isotonic liquids. The solution with less solute (less concentrated
solution, higher water potential) when two solutions of differing concentrations are compared is
hypotonic. The solution with more solute (more concentrated solution, lower water potential) is
hypertonic.

Apparatus
Beakers, Fresh Red Onion, 3 Microscope slides, 3 Coverslips, Compound Microscope, Forceps,
Scalpel Blades, Device to capture image of cells under microscope, Marker pen, Dropping
pipettes, 2 solutions of Unknown tonicity (A, B and C)

Method
A segment of red onion and all other materials were collected.
Three microscope slides were labeled A, B and C. A thin layer of
the epidermis or epidermal tissue was peeled from the red surface
of the onion and divided into three parts of the same or similar
dimensions. Each of the tissue samples was placed on the labeled
slides and a dropping pipette was used to add 1-3 drops of
solutions A, B and C to the respectively labeled slides with the
tissue. To finish the wet mount slides, a coverslip was placed over
the tissues. The samples were viewed under a compound light
microscope. Started at 40x magnification and then the
magnification increased to 100x and, if required, 400x. Note: It
helps to close the iris diaphragm to some degree to increase
contrast and see the cell walls clearly.
Name: Keysia Miller Date: November 17, 2022

Table of Results

Table 1: shows the different solutions, length of the cell, length of the cell membrane,
degree of plasmolysis and observations.

Length of Length of cell Degree of Observation

the cell wall membrane Plasmolysis

(graticule (graticule
Units) Units)

Solution A 65 50 (64-51)/115 x Water leaves the cell, causing the

100 cell membrane to pull away from
62 52 =11.30% the cell wall.
64 51

Average 64 51

Solution B 50 49 (50-49)/99 x Water molecules move from

100 outside to inside the cell. The
51 50 =1.01% membrane starts to swell,
pushing against the cell wall.
50 49

Average 50 49
Name: Keysia Miller Date: November 17, 2022

Solution C 45 44 (45-44.7)/90 x Under the microscope, the cell

100 membrane did not pull away
45 45 =0.004% from the cell wall.
46 45

Average 45 44.7
Name: Keysia Miller Date: November 17, 2022

Discussion

When the plant cell is fully inflated with water, it becomes rigid and firm and is referred to as
"turgid." Although their cells are firm, plants benefit from turgidity because they receive support
and strength. Plants stand upright and hold their leaves out to the sun for this reason. The cells in
plants cannot remain rigid and strong in the absence of enough water, which can cause the plant
to wilt. When a plant cell is submerged in a solution with a lower water potential than the plant
cell, osmosis causes the water to pass through the cell membrane and leave the plant cell. Water
leaves the plant cell's vacuole, which causes the cell volume to decrease. The protoplast steadily
contracts without increasing pressure on the cell wall.

Solution A can be identified as a hypertonic solution. The solution with a higher concentration of
non-penetrating solutes than the other solution passes through a semipermeable membrane. The
concentration of non-penetrating solutes in the solution outside the cytosol would be higher than
the cytosolic concentration in a hypertonic environment. It contained less water than was in the
cell, with a lower concentration of water overall. This resulted in the cell losing water and the
cell membrane pulling away from the cell wall. This cell can be described as plasmolyzed.
Plasmolysis is the shrinkage of the cell that occurs when it is exposed to a hypertonic
environment as a result of the outflow of water from the cells.

Solution B can be identified as a hypotonic solution. Where the concentration of water is higher
than that of the cytosol and there are less non-penetrating solutes in the solution. Due to the
hypotonic environment, an osmotic gradient is created, which causes the solvent or water to
move inside the cell and cause swelling. This cell can be described as turgid. The cell will
eventually become lysed if kept in a hypotonic solution.

Solution C can be identified as an isotonic solution. Solutions that are isotonic have the same
concentration of non-penetrating solutes when they traverse a semipermeable membrane. A cell
won't shrink or swell if there isn't an osmotic gradient because there won't be any net movement
of the solvent molecules.
Name: Keysia Miller Date: November 17, 2022

Limitation
The concentrations of solutions A, B and C are unknown.

Source of errors
If the onion strips are not ultra-thin, it will be difficult to see the results, leading to inaccurate
results.
Place the onion completely flat on the slide, the epidermal tissue can fold over on itself, it would
be difficult to see the cells accurately.

Precautions
Use only fresh leaves.
The strip should be ultra-thin with no folds.
Limit air bubbles under the wet mount slide.
Make sure the onion is placed completely flat on the slide.

Conclusion
Sample A was discovered to be a hypertonic solution, Sample B was discovered to be a
hypotonic solution, and Sample C was discovered to be an isotonic solution.

References

Diffusion and Osmosis: AP® Biology Crash Course | Albert.io. (2019, December 8). Albert
Resources. Retrieved December 13, 2022, from
https://www.albert.io/blog/diffusion-and-osmosis-ap-biology-crash-course/

Durant, C. D. (2013). Biology For CAPE® Examinations. Macmillan Publishers Limited.

Biology In Context for Cambridge International A Level by Glenn and Susan Toole

Hypertonicity. Biology Articles, Tutorials & Dictionary Online. (2021, July 6). Retrieved
January 8, 2023, from https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/hypertonicity

Hypotonic solution. (2019, October 7). Biology Articles, Tutorials & Dictionary Online.
Retrieved January 19, 2023, from https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/hypotonic-solution
Name: Keysia Miller Date: November 17, 2022

Reflection
This experiment helped me better comprehend the significance of certain things in my daily life.
It gave me more insight into why my finger gets shriveled when I soak it in the tub or spend a lot
of time in the water. Finger skin expands after absorbing water and osmosis may be utilized to
preserve meat and produce. Additionally, gargling with salt water is indicated if you have a sore
throat.
Name: Keysia Miller Date: November 17, 2022

SKILLS ASSESSED: ORR (To be submitted with Lab Report)

Criteria Mar Awarded

ks

Format: 2
 Headings in correct sequence (title, aim, materials
and apparatus, method, results and observation, discussion,
limitations, conclusion) -1
 Date -1

Grammar – past tense 1

Punctuation and Spelling: 2

 3 or less spelling errors – 1
 More than 3 spelling errors – 1
 3 or less Punctuation errors - 1
 More than 3 punctuation errors - 0

Method: 2
 All steps presented - 1
 All steps in order // sequence – 1


Results Table: 3
 Appropriate title
 Appropriate display of data
 Frame properly constructed
 Units (graticule Units)

Observations: 4
 Description of the cells that were plasmolysed
 Accurate diagrammatic representation of cells under each
condition 

Concise conclusion present 1

TOTAL 15
Name: Keysia Miller Date: November 17, 2022

SKILLS ASSESSED: A&I

Criteria Marks Awarded

Background Information: 4
 Osmosis (Definition and relevance to experiment)
 ✓ Tonicity (Definition and types stated)

Discussion: 3
 ✓ Use theory to explain the change in turgidity for
each  observed cell.


Limitation/ source of error: 2

 Any two that is correctly stated

Conclusion: 3
 State the tonicity of each of the unknown

TOTAL 14