Cyril Potter College of Education

Year One Semester One SCI113

Physical and Biological Science Secondary
Diffusion and Osmosis lab

Title: States of Matter (Diffusion)

Aim: To demonstrate the diffusion of a solute (drink mix) in a solvent (water).

Material / apparatus:
- Soluble substance drink mix
- Tap water (clear) approx. 100mL
- 1 transparent drinking straw
- 2 beakers (250mL) / transparent drinking glass
- Spatula

Method:
1. Transparent drinking straw was placed in an empty beaker.
2. ¼ of the spatula of the soluble substance was carefully placed into the
transparent drinking straw.
3. Water was gently poured into the beaker and placed on a flat surface.
transparent drinking straw was not removed neither was the water stirred.
4. Straw was carefully removed.
5. A beaker filled with water and placed on a flat surface.

Drawing
Results / Observation
Results / Observation Time

When the straw was removed the drink

mix particles immediately dropped to the
bottom of the beaker. Leaving a trail of
light red colour to the top.

After about I minute this trail of light red I minute

colour particles diffused into the water
and there was a very faint diffusion of red
colour in the water with about 98% of the
particles still at the bottom.

After 5 minutes there was a very visible 5 minutes

red colour at the bottom of the beaker
and a very faint red colour change
throughout the solvent.

After one hour the red colour at the 1hour

 bottom of the beaker rose higher
indicating more diffusion taking place and
the top of the liquid still had a faint red
colour

After six hours diffusion had reach 6hours

dynamic equilibrium. The solution was
light red.

Discussion
Diffusion is the movement of particles (solute) from a region of high concentration to a
region of low concentration as a result of kinetic energy that is the random motion of
particles. The particles of the water(solvent) and the particles of the drink mix (solute)
move freely because of kinetic energy. The drink mix(solute) moved from a region of
high concentration to a region of low concentration along the concentration gradient and
eventually a dynamic equilibrium was reached where the solute was visible as light red
throughout the liquid.
Conclusion it can be concluded that the solute (drink mix) will diffuse in the solvent
(water).

Limitations: when taking the straw out of the beaker the water clogged the bottom of the
straw a prevented some of the solute from leaving the straw
Title: States of Matter (Osmosis)

Aim: To demonstrate the Osmosis of the solvent (water) through a semi-permeable

membrane (potato) to a solute (sugar).
Material / apparatus:
- 1 medium Irish potato
- 30g (2 tbs) brown sugar
- 1 knife
– 1 petri dish/ small transparent glass bowl (the potato fit loosely)
- Measuring cylinder
- Distilled water

Method:
Procedure
1. The potato was peeled and cut into halves.
2. A potato cup was made from half of the potato by scooping out the center and cutting
the bottom flat.
3. 10 mL distilled water was measured and poured about into the dish; enough water
was placed to surround the halves.
4. Sugar was placed into scoop out area.
5. Three 30 minutes observations were made.
6. laboratory report was prepared.

Drawing
Results / Observation
Results / Observation Time

When the potato with sugar was placed in 30 minutes

the petri dish after thirty minutes the top
of the potato appeared very wet and the
sugar was wet.

After about one hour the sugar was 1hour

submerged in water in the potato.
After one hour and thirty minutes the 1hour and 30minutes
potato was filled with water, and the
sugar inside started to dissolve.

Discussion
Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of a high concentration of
water molecules to a region with a lower concentration of water molecules, through a
semi-permeable membrane. The particles of the water(solvent) passed through the
potato (semi -permeable membrane) because there is a concentration gradient across
the membrane of sugar (solute) and solvent. The sugar (solute) cannot effectively move
to balance the concentration on both sides of the membrane, so water moves to
achieve this balance. After an After one hour and thirty minutes the potato with sugar
was filled with water and the sugar started to dissolve.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that the Osmosis will occur with solvent (water) through a semi-
permeable membrane (potato) to a solute (sugar) .

References
1.https://online.cpce.edu.gy/course/view.php?id=274