Name: ______________________ TOTAL = /21

Lab: Is Bigger Better?

Introduction
Phenolphthalein is an indicator that turns pink in the presence of a base, and colourless in the
presence of an acid. In this lab, you will use phenolphthalein to determine the rate of diffusion
across membranes with varying surface area to volume ratios.

Procedure
1. Obtain three identically sized pieces of gelatin (approximately 4x4x4 cm). Note that the
gelatin contains a basic solution and phenolphthalein, so the pieces will be pink in colour.

2. Cut your first piece of gelatin into sixty-four cubes as depicted below (approximately
1x1x1 cm). Place them in an empty beaker labelled, “small cubes”.

3. Cut your second piece of gelatin into eight cubes as depicted below (approximately 2x2
cm). Place them in an empty beaker labelled, “medium cubes”.

4. Place your last piece of gelatin (uncut) into an empty beaker labelled, “large cube”.

Small cubes Medium cubes

4 cm
2 cm
1 cm
1 cm 2 cm 4 cm

5. Add just enough dilute hydrochloric acid solution to cover the cubes in all three beakers.
Once the HCl has been added, begin your timer.

6. Record the amount of time required for the cubes in each beaker to turn colourless.

Hypothesis & Predictions

- SCIENCE 10H -
Develop a hypothesis & predictions to address the following research question: (2)
How does the surface area: volume ratio of a cube affect its rate of diffusion?
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Results

Cube Side Total # of Surface Total Total SA:V Time

Size length cubes area of 1 surface volume ratio required to
(cm) cube area change
colour (min)

Small 1 64

Medium 2 8

Large 4 1

➢ Show your calculations for the “medium” cubes in the space below. (4)
Analysis
1) State the controlled, manipulated, and responding variables in this lab. (3)
Controlled Manipulated Responding

2) Explain why the total volume of the cubes remains constant in each beaker, while the total
surface area changes. (2)

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2) Calculate the rate of diffusion for the three sets of cubes by dividing the total volume of each
set (cm3) by the time required for cubes to turn completely colourless (min). (3)

3) Graph the surface area to volume ratio vs. rate of diffusion for each set of cubes. Include a
title and correctly labelled axis for full marks. (4)
4) Using your results, describe the relationship between the surface area to volume ratio and
rate of diffusion. Do these results support your hypothesis? (2)
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5) Is bigger better? Based on your results, suggest a reason why cells tend to be so small. (1)
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