Stage 2 Biology

Introduction
Osmosis can be defined as the net movement of water molecules across a cell membrane through proteins
called aquaporin’s, and is the primary way cells obtain water. Water will move from where the solute
concentration is higher to that of where it is lower. When referring to osmosis, three different terms can be
used to describe a solution: hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic. In a hypotonic solution, there is a higher
concentration of solute inside the cell, meaning that the net movement of water will be into the cell.
Conversely, a hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration outside the cell, meaning that the water
inside the cell will move out. Finally, in an isotonic solution, there will be no net movement of water as the
concentrations both inside and outside the cell are equal (Staughton, 2018). Osmosis can be affected by a
multitude of factors such as temperature, surface area, and concentration gradient which is the factor to be
investigated in this practical.

Dialysis bags will be used in this investigation as they simulate the semi-permeable cell membrane.
Dialysis tubing has pores in it, which allows water to pass into or out of the bag, analogous to the aquaporins
found on a cell membrane. However, the pores do not allow higher weight particles to pass through, with the
most relevant example being salt (NaCl) as that is the solute which will be used in the experiment. The dialysis
tubes will be filled with a stock solution. After securing the bags, they will be placed into various saline
solutions, with their mass being measured before and after being submersed. Due to time restraints, only one
trial will be conducted. However, data will be collected from other groups performing the same practical.

Saline solutions are commonly used for intravenous infusions, and are therefore usually isotonic with
the body’s cells so the body is not disrupted. Typically, a concentration of 0.9% saline solution is used (Baxter
Health Ltd, 2018). An experiment similar to this one has been performed with potatoes slices modelling cells,
and sucrose being used as a solute. From figure 1, the main trend present is the fact that the potato initially
takes in water as the solution is hypotonic, but then exerts water when the solution becomes hypertonic
(Asghari, 2017).

Figure 1 – Graph from similar practical report depicting the change in length of potato slices when placed in
different concentrations

Aim: To investigate the relationship between concentration gradient and osmosis.

Hypothesis: It is hypothesized that as the concentration of the NaCl solution (%) differs more from the isotonic
value, the dialysis bags will have a greater change in mass (g).

Independent variable: Concentration of NaCl solution (0.0%, 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.0%, 1.2%).

Dependent variable: Mass of the dialysis bags (g) after being placed in NaCl solution for 15 minutes.

Derived dependent variable: Percentage mass difference (%) and isotonic concentration (%).

Luke Stainer
Stage 2 Biology
Table 1 – Controlled variables with details as to how and why they were kept constant
Controlled Variable
Concentration of stock
solution
Amount of time the dialysis bags
were left in the saline solution
Surface-area-to-volume ratio of
the dialysis bags.
Apparatus
 Dialysis tubing
 100 ml of each solution (0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2% NaCl)
 100 mL stock solution
 25 mL Measuring cylinders
 Cotton
 Electronic balance
 X5 150ml beakers
 Stop watch
 Scissors
 Disposable pipettes
 Paper towel
Luke Stainer
How it was Controlled
The stock solution poured into
the dialysis bags was sourced
exclusively from one bottle.
A stopwatch was set to 15
minutes, and all dialysis bags
were taken out of the saline
solutions when 15 minutes had
passed.
Provided dialysis bags of ten
centimetres were used
throughout the experiment.
Additionally, only 15ml of stock
solution was poured into each of
the bags.
Why it was Controlled
Altering the stock solution would
alter the concentration gradient.
While the concentration gradient
is the independent variable in this
practical, it is only being changed
through the NaCl concentration.
Additionally, the concentration of
the stock solution must stay
constant as its value is being
derived and compared to a true
value (0.9 %) to determine how
accurate the data is.
Changing the time would change
how much osmosis could occur.
More osmosis can occur when
more time is given, whilst the
opposite is true when less time is
given.
When objects have a higher
surface-area-to-volume ratio,
osmosis occurs at a faster rate as
there is a bigger opening for
water particles to travel across.
This is especially true for dialysis
bags as it has pores instead of
proteins. Additionally, as there is
less volume when the ratio is
higher, a lower net movement of
water is required in order for the
solution to reach an isotonic
state.
 Stage 2 Biology

Method

NaCl solution
Cotton

Dialysis bag filled

with stock solution
Stock solution

150ml glass beaker Dialysis bag

Figure 2 – Labelled experimental setup photos showing the dialysis bags tied and placed into the saline solution

1. One end of a 10cm long dialysis bag tubing was wet with distilled water. Then, it was folded and
scrunched.
2. The same end was secured shut with a cotton knot.
3. The untouched end was then wet and opened.
4. 15ml of stock solution was precisely measured with the 25ml measuring cylinder and a disposable
pipette. The stock solution was then poured into the dialysis bag.
5. The same end was closed with a cotton knot.
6. The above steps were repeated another four times to create five total dialysis bags filled with the
stock solution.
7. Each of the filled dialysis bags were weighed with the electronic scale, with it being made sure that a
plastic disc was placed on the scale first so that the apparatus would not have been damaged.
8. The five 150ml glass beakers were filled with 100ml of each respective NaCl concentration (0.0%,
0.4%, 0.8%, 1.0%, and 1.2%)
9. One filled dialysis bag was dropped into each glass beaker while a timer was simultaneously started.
10. After fifteen minutes, the dialysis bags were taken out and placed onto paper towels.
11. Each filled dialysis bag was weighed again.

Risk Assessment
Table 2 – Potential hazards with their likeliness of occurring and proactive/reactionary protocols

Proactive Measures and Procedure

Potential Hazard
Spilling saline solution on the
floor
Getting saline solution into eyes
Assessment of Hazard Risk
in Case of Occurrence
Low Only small quantities of saline
solution were handled at a time,
which made it easier to manoeuvre
the liquid. If it were to be split,
nearby people would be notified and
the liquid would be mopped up.
Low Eye glasses were worn in order to
prevent contact with the saline

Luke Stainer
Stage 2 Biology

solution through the eyes. In case of

the hazard occurring, water would
be splashed into the eyes while a
teacher is notified.
Dropping glass beakers Low Glass beakers were kept away from
the edges of the tables, and were
only relocated when absolutely
necessary. Additionally, hard shoes
were worn so that they would not
injure peoples’ feet. If it were to be
dropped, people in the vicinity would
have been notified and area would
remain vacant until it would be
properly cleaned.

Results
Table 3 - Initial and final mass for each NaCl concentration with a derived average percentage change

NaCl Mass of dialysis bags (g)

Concentratio Group 2 Group 1
Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Average
n (Self) Percentag
(%) Initia Fina Initia Final Initia Final Initia Final Initia Final e change
l l l l l l (%)
0.0 15.0 15.3 15.2 15.6 15.0 15.3 14.9 15.6 15.6 16.4 2.8
0.4 14.0 14.4 15.2 15.4 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.8 14.8 15.1 2.0
0.8 15.6 15.6 15.0 15.0 15.0 13.7 15.1 15.3 14.8 15.3 -0.8
1.0 12.7 12.3 15.3 15.2 13.8 15.1 14.7 14.8 15.3 15.7 1.7
1.2 15.2 15.1 14.9 14.7 12.1 12.1 15.4 15.2 14.8 14.6 -0.9
Sample calculation for average percentage change (0.0% concentration):

( 15.3−15
15 ) (100)+ (
15.6−15.2
15.2 ) ( 100)+ (
15.3−15
15 ) (100)+(
15.6−14.9
14.9 ) (100)+(
16.4−15.6
15.6 )(100)
5
¿ 100

Average percentage difference (%) in the weight of the

dialysis bags v NaCl concentration of the saline solutions
Average percentage difference (%)

3.5
3
2.5 f(x) = − 2.68 x + 2.78
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
-0.5 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
-1
-1.5
NaCl concentration (%)

Luke Stainer
Stage 2 Biology

Figure 3 – Graph depicting the Average percentage difference in the weight of the dialysis bags against the
NaCl concentration of the saline solutions

Figure 3 percentage error calculation:

Isotonic value derived ¿ figure3=1.0 %

True isotonic value=0.9 %
Measured value−True value
Percentage error =( )(100)
True value
1−0.9
Percentage error =( )(100)
0.9

Percentage error = ( 1−0.9

0.9 )
( 100 ) =11.1 %

Analysis
From figure three, it can be gathered that the dialysis bags initially increased in mass when placed in distilled
water, but went on to increase less and less until eventually decreasing in mass. This data does support the
initial hypothesis made that as “the concentration of the NaCl solution differs more from the isotonic value,
the dialysis bags will have a greater change in mass”. This trend is reflected in the data primarily collected too;
group 2’s results show that the dialysis bags increased in size until the 0.8% NaCl solution, which is close to the
true isotonic value, where they then decreased in mass. The isotonic value of the value stock solution was
interpolated from figure 3, and it was 1.0%, while the true value of the saline solution was 0.9%. Hence, it can
be said that the experiment conducted was accurate, with there only being an 11% percentage error.

Figure 3 also closely resembles the graph from figure 1, where a similar experiment was conducted with potato
slices, since both slopes decrease as the solute concentration increases. These results also correlate with the
theory behind osmosis. At first, the dialysis bag increases in mass due to the fact it is in a hypotonic solution –
the solute concentration is higher inside the bag, meaning a net movement of water into the bag. However,
when the solute concentration was almost equal inside and outside of the cell, notably at 0.8% NaCl
concentration, there was a minimal mass change of -0.8%. Finally, when the solution was hyper tonic, the mass
change increased in magnitude to -0.9%.

Evaluation
Due to the aforementioned reasons above, the experiment conducted is accurate. However, precision and
reliability are another matter. While the trend shown above is accurate, there is a clear scatter on figure 3,
indicating that the data gathered is unreliable. The data is also shown to not be very replicable. In table 3,
some of the groups such as group 1 almost matched the trend exactly while group 3 would have had a slope in
the opposite direction. It can also be observed that the data is imprecise, with many of the initial mass
measurements varying by 3 grams i.e. group 3 having an initial mass for the 0.0% NaCl solution of 15 grams will
have an initial mass of 12.1 grams for the 1.2% NaCl solution.

One possible source of random error is liquids being on the scale, and therefore increasing the measured mass.
This could possibly explain why some groups’ dialysis tubes never decreased in weight, as excess water on
carried onto the scale via the string or on the outside of the dialysis tubes also being measured. This was
attempted to be minimised by immediately placing the dialysis tubes onto paper towels after being submersed
in the NaCl solution. An additional random error which may have occurred was the inconsistent quantity of
solution being poured into each beaker, which was attempted to be mediated by using 150ml beakers. If too
much was poured, it would change the water potential, meaning that water would more easily enter, while the
opposite would be true if too little was poured. Due to the pre-emptive measures taken, it is unlikely that the
random error had a significant impact on the results collected.

Luke Stainer
Stage 2 Biology

A systematic error which may have occurred is the use of an inconsistent stock solution. Some groups may
not have ensured that it was kept constant throughout by simply using the wrong liquid or contaminating the
stock solution. As the derived value for the isotonic solution is higher, if this error were to have occurred, it
would be most likely that the stock solution used would have been of a higher concentration than expect. This
could explain why group 3’s dialysis bags all increased in mass until they were placed in the 1.2% NaCl solution,
in which they were isotonic. Another possible systematic error which may have occurred is using an incorrect
NaCl solution. It is notable that in figure 3, there is an increase in weight for the dialysis bags when being
placed in 1.0% NaCl solution. The solution may potentially be of a much lower concentration, however, the
experiment would have to be repeated to determine whether or not either of these systematic errors
occurred.

Conclusion
Overall, the results gathered did support the hypothesis made that “the concentration of the NaCl solution
differs more from the isotonic value, the dialysis bags will have a greater change in mass”. This trend is support
with prior research in the form of the isotonic value being relatively close, along with the biological theory and
another similar practical having close results. Unfortunately, the practical conducted does have issues in terms
of precision and reliability. Even many of the initial masses vary greatly in size, while the scatter is very visible
on figure 3. This is in spite of multiple precautionary measures being taken. Additionally, while the experiment
was accurate, many groups experienced different trends individually, indicating the presence of systematic
error and meaning the practical is less replicable. This practical was suited to determining an isotonic value
fortunately as relevant dependent and independent variables were chosen, which allowed the value to be
interpolated. The aim has been thoroughly and relevantly investigated, however, whether or not correct
values will be obtained with this practical design are iffy to say the least.

WORD COUNT: 1371

Bibliography
Asghari, Y. (2017, October 2). The effect of osmosis on potatoes in different concentrations of surcrose
solutions. Retrieved from Athenology: https://www.athenology.com/post/2017/09/23/the-effect-of-
osmosis-on-potatoes-in-different-concentrations-of-sucrose-solutions

Baxter Health Ltd. (2018, December 24). Sodium Chloride 0.9% Intravenous Infusion BP. Retrieved from
Electronic Medicines Compendium: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1871/smpc

Staughton, J. (2018, November 18). What is osmosis? Retrieved from SCIENCEabc:

https://www.scienceabc.com/pure-sciences/what-is-osmosis-definition-biology-diffusion.html

Luke Stainer