Activity #3

MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
Student’s Name _________________________ Date Performed _____________
Course/Year/Section _____________________ Date Submitted _____________
Instructor’s Name ________________________

Diffusion and Molecular Weight

Part 1
Distance covered by:
HCl: __________ cm NH4OH: __________cm
1. What compounds are formed upon the reaction of HCl and NH4OH?
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2. How does molecular weight affect the rate of diffusion?

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Part 2
Diameters of the rings:

Congo red _____ mm Methylene blue ____ mm

Potassium permanganate _____ mm

1. Which solution has diffused the farthest? _____________________________

2. How does molecular weight affect the rate of diffusion?

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Diffusion and Temperature

1. Why is potassium permanganate used in this experiment?

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2. Describe the distribution of potassium permanganate in each beaker after 30
minutes.
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3. What is the effect of temperature on the rate of diffusion? Explain.

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Diffusion and Molecular Size

1. Where did you observe a color change, in the beaker or cellulose sac? How do you
explain the color change?
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2. Based on the results of your experiment, which substance has smaller molecules,
starch or iodine? Explain your answer.
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Measuring the rate of osmosis

Set Up Initial Weight of Final Weight of % Change in

Cellulose Sac Cellulose Sac Weight
Sac: distilled water
Beaker: distilled water
Sac: 0.4M sucrose
Beaker: distilled water
Sac: 0.8M sucrose
Beaker: distilled water
Sac: 1.0M sucrose
Beaker: distilled water
Sac: distilled water
Beaker: 1.0M sucrose

Graph

0.0

1. What is the relationship of the rate of osmosis with the concentration of sucrose on
one side of the membrane (concentration gradient of sucrose)?
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2. Explain the results in sac #5.

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3. In what way does the cellulose sac/dialysis sac similar to the cell membrane?
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Osmosis and the Red Blood Cell

1. Describe the shape and size of red blood cell seen on the three slides. Draw your
observations.

Slide A:
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Slide B:
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Slide C:
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2. Based on the results of your experiment,

2.1. Which solution is hyperosmotic relative to the red blood cell? Explain.
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2.2. Which solution is hypoosmotic relative to the red blood cell? Explain.
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2.3. Which solution is isosmotic relative to the red blood cell? Explain.
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