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Osmosis: Diffusion Is The Process Where Molecules of Two or More Substances Move About

This document discusses osmosis, which is the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane down its concentration gradient. It explains that water will diffuse into a cell if it is in a hypotonic solution, where the solution has a lower concentration of solutes than inside the cell, and water will diffuse out of the cell if it is in a hypertonic solution, with a higher concentration of solutes. The document outlines an experiment using potato cylinders in distilled water, a 0.9% salt solution, and a 20% salt solution to demonstrate how osmosis causes the potato cylinders to change in size due to gaining or losing water depending on the solution's tonicity.

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40 views

Osmosis: Diffusion Is The Process Where Molecules of Two or More Substances Move About

This document discusses osmosis, which is the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane down its concentration gradient. It explains that water will diffuse into a cell if it is in a hypotonic solution, where the solution has a lower concentration of solutes than inside the cell, and water will diffuse out of the cell if it is in a hypertonic solution, with a higher concentration of solutes. The document outlines an experiment using potato cylinders in distilled water, a 0.9% salt solution, and a 20% salt solution to demonstrate how osmosis causes the potato cylinders to change in size due to gaining or losing water depending on the solution's tonicity.

Uploaded by

izzah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Osmosis

Introduction

Normal cellular function is characterized by many substance moving into and out of
cells. Simple diffusion is one means of exchange between a cell and its environment.
Diffusion is the process where molecules of two or more substances move about
and become evenly dispersed. When the molecules remain uniformly
distributed,equilibrium exists.

As molecules move away from their area of highest density, there is a gradual
decrease in molecule concentration as the distance increases from the point of
highest molecule concentration. This is called a concentration gradient. Molecules
diffuse down a concentration gradient toward the area of least concentration.

The molecules of all matter,particularly gases and liquids are in constant


vibrating motion. As a result of this motion,molecules are continually colliding with
one another.

Proper water balance is crucial for a cell. Water passes easily through the plasma
membrane. The diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane is
called osmosis. Like all other substances,water diffuses down its concentration
gradient toward an area where there is less of it.

The osmotic potential of a solution is its tendency to gain water by osmosis


when separated from pure water by a selectively permeable membrane. The
osmotic potential is determined by the number of dissolved particles (solutes) in the
solution. The more particles there are in a solution ,the greater the solution’s
tendency to gain water by osmosis.

If a cell is placed in a solution where the solute concentration is equal to its


solute concentration (equal osmotic potential), there is no net movement of water
into or out of the cell. Such a solution is termed isotonic. A hypertonic solution
contains a higher concentration of solutes than is found within the cell. If a cell is
placed in a hypertonic environment ,water moves out of a cell. A hypotonic
solution,water moves into the cell.
In this exercise,the direction of water movement in osmosis is determined by the
solute (dissolved substance) concentration of a salt solution as compared to the
solute concentration within the potato cells. The osmotic gain or loss of water causes
a change in the size of potato cylinders.

Objectives

At the end of this session,students should be able to.

1. explain the process of simple diffusion


2. Explain the concept of osmosis

Materials

1. Slides
2. Cover slips
3. Toothpicks
4. Carmine dye power
5. Microscope
6. Paper towels
7. Distilled water
8. Potato cylinders in container of:
9. 20% salt (NaCl) solution
10. 0.9% salt (NaCl) solution
11. Forceps
12. Ruler

Osmosis Procedure
1. The six pieces of 3 cm -potato cylinder are cut.
2. The two piece of the 3 cm-potato cylinder are placed into beakers containing
distilled water ,0.9% salt solution and 20% salt solution,respectively.
3. After one hour,removed the potato cylinders using forceps carefully from each of
the beakers and place them on a paper towel.
4. The length of the potato cylinders are measured from each of the beakers as
accurately as can with a ruler. The measurements are recorded.

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