Water diffuses across membranes down its concentration gradient by random, kinetic motion until it reaches equilibrium. In some situations an equilibrium may be unable to reach. This will cause the material to become hypotonic and may burst, hypertonic and shrivel away. Some cells have a cell wall and will not burst due to turgor pressure. When in an isotonic environment, the movement of water in the cells, equals the movement of water outside the cell. The net flow of water should be into the membrane where there isn´t any water.
Using a pipette I put eight centiliters of one molar sucrose into the first 16-centimeter dialysis tube. In the second dialysis tube I placed 8 centiliters of .6 molar sucrose. Both of the dialysis tubes were then massed and placed into a beaker of water. Every ten minutes the dialysis tubes were dried & massed. This process was repeated several times until time ran out.
Both dialysis tubes had a substantial increase in their mass. With the one molar sucrose gaining mass at a higher rate than the .6 molar sucrose solution.
| Lab Results | Trials | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 molar sucrose | 10.59 | 11.85 | 12.46 | 13.09 | 14.08 | 14.48 |
| .6 molar sucrose | 10.21 | 11.18 | 11.53 | 11.94 | 12.33 | |
Based upon my data my hypothesis that the dialysis tubes would expand was correct. The time limit didn´t allow me the chance to see if the dialysis membrane would burst open or if the turgor pressure would keep it from bursting. Osmosis could be used to pull water out of different substances or by applying pressure osmosis can be used to purify water.
