Shanghai Singapore International School

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Biology Practical 1.1-IA – Surface area-to-volume ratio

Name: _________________________________________ Date: ____________

Task

To investigate how surface area-to-volume ratio affects efficiency of exchange across cell
membrane.

Relevant chapter from the DP curriculum

1.1 Introduction to Cells

Introduction

We know that the geometry of structures affect their surface area-to-volume ratio. For cells, a
change in this ratio may mean the difference between life and death (Beals, Gross & Harrell,
2000). This experiment simulates how a change in the ratio affects the efficiency of cellular
exchange of metabolites.

Hot agar solution solidifies when cooled to room temperature and its molecular structure is
porous and permeable to most hydrophilic chemicals.

Phenolphthalein is a pH indicator that is colorless below pH 8 and pink above it. By preparing
agar cubes impregnated with this indicator and soaking them in sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
solution, we may observe the cubes staining pink from the outside as NaOH diffuses into the
interior.

Material
Agar powder, 20g Plastic tray Measuring cylinder, 50ml
Distilled water, 1L Thermometer NaOH 0.01M, 200ml
Phenolphthalein, 10ml Glass stirring rod Disposable gloves
Beaker, 1L Spatula HCl 0.01M, 10ml
Bunsen burner Tripod stand & wire gauze Kitchen knife
Paper towel Beaker, 250ml

Method

Preparation (done by technicians)

1. Dissolve the agar powder in 1L of distilled water.

2. Heat the agar solution, stirring continuously to dissolve the powder thoroughly. Make sure
you wear safety goggles and gloves.
3. Turn off the heat just as the temperature of the solution reaches 90 0C. Keep stirring as the
agar cools.
4. Add 10ml phenolphthalein when the temperature of the agar solution is below 700C. This is
important because phenolphthalein contains 99% ethanol, which boils at 78 0C. The resulting
bubbling of ethanol may cause splashing and scalding.
6. Once thoroughly mixed, pour the solution in the plastic tray. Leave to solidify and cool to
room temperature.

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Experiment

1. Use a kitchen knife to remove the entire block of agar from the plastic tray. Take care not to
damage the block. Wear disposable gloves.
2. Cut out regular cubes of agar with the following widths:

5mm 10mm 15mm 20mm 25mm 30mm 35mm

3. Place a cube in NaOH solution and incubate for five minutes at room temperature.
4. Remove and cut the cube into equal halves.
5. Measure the width of the region unstained by the pink coloration. (Refer to Figure 1)
6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 for cubes of all sizes.

Figure 1: Measuring the width of the unstained region

Data analysis

1. Calculate the surface area-to-volume ratio of cubes of different sizes.

2. Calculate the percentage of the volume of the cube that is unstained. Assume that the
unstained region is a perfect cube. Include uncertainties.
3. Evaluate the relationship between the surface area-to-volume ratio and percentage of the
cube that remained unstained.

Conclusion

Discuss the significance of the result with respect to cell size and shape. How do cells with large
volumes ensure a sufficient rate of transport to sustain metabolism?

What do you need to include in your report?

1. Raw data, indicating clearly your own.

2. Processed data, including working and graph.
3. Discussion of the significance of the results.
4. Identify limitations of this experiment and suggest improvements.*
5. Include in-text citations and a reference list, if required. *

Reference

Beals, M., Gross, L. and Harrell, S., 2000. Sizes of organism: the surface area volume ratio.
The Institute for Environmental Modelling, University of Tennessee. Accessed 6 April 2012
< http://www.tiem.utk.edu/~gross/bioed/bealsmodules/area_volume.html>
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