Osmosis Lab Report

Objective:
A lab partner and I created this experiment in an attempt to model osmosis, the traveling of molecules of a solvent across a semipermeable membrane in an attempt to equalize the concentrations on both sides of the membrane.

Procedure:
To model the process of osmosis, we set up several beakers that contained water, dialysis tubing, and a salt solution. Each was modeled differently, depending on where the salt was located. Each beaker is detailed below:


Beaker A: Dialysis tubing filled with water sealed inside, tinted with food coloring, surrounded by a salt solution.
Beaker B: Dialysis tubing filled with a salt solution sealed inside, surrounded by water, tinted with food coloring.
Beaker C: Dialysis tubing filled with solid salt sealed inside, surrounded by water.
Beaker D: Dialysis tubing filled with carbon dioxide sealed inside, surrounded by water.


Before placing the dialysis tubing in the beakers, we measured the mass of each tube after they had been filled with their solutions/contents. 24 hours later, we measured again so that we could track the movement of the water.

Claims:
It can be concluded that the water diffused to areas of higher concentrations, such as the ones that contained high amounts of salt.

Evidence:

The graph organizes the results from the experiment, proving the water traveled from areas of lower concentration to areas of higher concentration. Based on the contents of the beaker and dialysis tubing, the ending mass of the tubing varied in proportion to the movement of the water.

Research:
In a similar experiment conducted using potatoes instead of dialysis tubing, the same general results were found. The same general results were also found when using eggs instead of potatoes or dialysis tubing. When experimental results were explored during a class session, it could be concluded that all experiments yielded similar results.

Reflection:
Reflecting on this experiment, I am very satisfied with the results. Throughout the process, I was able to understand the reasoning behind the results and predict what would happen. I believe the experiment could be improved by trying to reverse the experiment. Would placing the dialysis tubing (after the first 24 hour testing period) into new beakers with different concentrations reverse the original direction of the water? It would be interesting to try to control the flow of the water through several different tests.