Experiment 1

Water: its Properties and Methods of Material Transfer

Introduction
The cell membrane or plasma membrane forms the outer limit of a cell. It is
composed of 55% proteins, 25% phospholipids, 13% cholesterol, 3% carbohydrates, and
4% other lipids. It is semi-permeable, which means that it regulates the flow of materials
such as ions and molecules from going in and out of the cell. Moreover, the membrane
plays a role in the production or assembly of cell wall or capsule among plants and some
microorganisms.
The cell membrane functions as selectively permeable to certain molecules and
many ions which allow two-way traffic of nutrients and wastes needed to sustain
metabolism and provides electrical currency created by movement of ions through
membrane.

Diffusion
Diffusion is the net movement of molecules or ions from region of higher
concentration to a region of low concentration. The rate of diffusion is measured by the
number of diffusing molecules passing through the membrane per unit time. The rate at
which a substance diffuses depends on (1) the magnitude of the concentration difference
across the membrane, (2) size and shape of the particles of solute, and (3) the
temperature. Higher temperature increases the rate of the diffusion process because it
increases the kinetic energy of molecules.

Osmosis
Osmosis is the simple diffusion of a solvent (e.g. water) across a membrane that
is more permeable to the solvent than it is to the solute. In this process water moves from
the solution that is more dilute to the solution in which there is a higher solute
concentration. The movement stops when the two solutions reach equal concentration or
when pressure is applied to the liquid on the stronger solution side of the membrane. In
this connection, an opposing force could prevent osmosis. The force that would have to

WVSU Chem 216 (lab) 1st Sem AY: 21-22 1

be exerted to prevent osmosis is the osmotic pressure of the solution. The greater the
solute concentration of a solution, the greater is the osmotic pressure.

Dialysis
The term dialysis refers to the separation of molecules on the basis of size by their
ability to diffuse through a semi-permeable membrane but will not allow the proteins to
pass through.

Surface Tension
Surface tension is a property that is due to the tendency of fluid surface to contract
and behave as if it is enclosed in an elastic membrane. In water, surface tension is very
strong because of the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between water molecules that
eventually lead to the formation of drops, bubbles and meniscus, as well as properties
such as capillarity, absorption of liquids by porous substances and the ability to wet
surfaces. Soaps, detergents, and salts of bile acids are especially effective in lowering
surface tension.

The experiments aim to investigate some type of biological transport processes; relate
osmosis, diffusion, dialysis and surface tension to the selective permeability of the cell membrane;
be able to test the presence of sugar and protein in dialysate; and to predict the outcome of the
presence or absence of detergents in the surface of solutions.

Materials:
A. Diffusion
1. Identical cups
2. Food dye
3. Water
B. Osmosis
1. Petri dish
2. Distilled water
3. 20% sugar solution

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 4. Potato
5. Knife
6. Pins
C. Dialysis
1. Dialysis tubing
2. Fructose-starch solution
3. Iodine solution
4. Test tubes
5. Cup or beaker
D. Surface tension
1. Wax paper
2. Soap
3. Food dyes
4. Dropper
5. Isopropyl alcohol
6. Toothpick

Procedure:
A. Diffusion
1. Get to identical cups and label it A and B
2. Fill half of the cup A with water at room temperature and cup B with warm water of
the same volume as cup A.
3. Add food color to both cups at the same time.
4. Observe and compare the rate of diffusion.
B. Osmosis
1. Get a potato and cut both ends.
2. Make a cavity to the potato and set aside.
3. Fill half of the petri dish (or glass) with water and drop the potato.
4. Pour 20% sugar solution into the glass with potato until the liquid level reach half-
full.
5. Mark the level of sugar solution into the potato using a push pin.

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 6. Leave the set-up for 2 hours undisturbed.
7. Mark the rise in the level of sugar solution with another push pin.
C. Dialysis
1. Tie one end of the dialysis tubing.
2. Pour fructose-starch solution. Then seal the bag
3. Immerse the bag into the water.
4. Add 50 drops of iodine solution to the water.
5. Set aside for several hours. Come back and note your observations.
D. Surface tension
1. Dissolve food dye into the water and label the solution.
2. In another container, mix food dye with isopropyl alcohol and label also the solution.
3. Place a drop of food dye-water solution into the wax paper and another drop of food
dye-alcohol solution.
4. Observe it for a while and note the changes.
5. Prick the droplets using a toothpick with pick.
6. Note your observations.

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 Group No. Date Performed
Group Members Date Submitted

Experiment 1
Water: its Properties and Methods of Material Transfer

Objectives: ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

A. Diffusion
(Attach picture of the home experiment)

Set-up Observations

Warm water + Ink

Water + ink

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Provide an explanation to your observation.

B. Osmosis
(Attach picture of the home experiment)

Observation

Initial volume

Final volume

Provide an explanation to your observation.

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C. Dialysis
(Attach picture of the home experiment)

Set-up Initial Final

Color of the solution in the bag

Color of solution in the cup

Provide an explanation to your observation.

D. Surface Tension
(Attach picture of the home experiment)

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 Set-up Observation

Water pricked with toothpick without soap

Water pricked with toothpick with soap

Provide an explanation to your observation.

Post lab questions

1. How do osmosis, diffusion, dialysis and surface tension exhibited in the cell
membrane?

2. Explain how renal insufficiency may be corrected by the use of dialysis.

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3. Supposing we are going to use milk as the sample in part C. If we will test the dialysate
for sugar and protein, which test will give a positive result? Explain.

4. Explain how soap lowers the surface tension of water.

5. What will happen to a red blood cell if you place it in a hypertonic, hypotonic and
isotonic salt solution?

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