Osmosis Lab Report

BIOLOGY

Osmosis is defined as the movement of water molecules from the region of their lower concentration (hypotonic) to a region of their higher concentration (hypertonic) through a semi permeable membrane to create a stable and equal cellular environment (Isotonic state). This process is a vital function for the growth and stability of plant life in ways such as:

Osmosis is a necessary process for photosynthesis to take place. In the process of photosynthesis, plants use the sun to create proteins, sugars and lipids that turn into energy for the survival of plants. This process requires a great deal of carbon dioxide, sunlight and water to be successful. Stomata (pores that are guarded with guard cells), which are responsible for the gas exchange to take place, enable the process of photosynthesis. Osmosis makes it possible for the stomata to open as: during osmosis, the guard cells swell with water and the pressure triggers the stomata to open. When the stomata open they take in the carbon dioxide from the air, which is then used in combination with water from the roots, and sunlight is absorbed by the chlorophyll to produce plant energy. This energy is used as food for the plants. The by-product of this reaction is oxygen, which we breathe.

The roots of a plant are the reason for their survival. They reach into the soil in order to establish a way of transport of nutrients and water to the plant. The roots absorb the water, also through the process of osmosis. If the concentration of water outside the plant root is greater than that of the water concentration inside, osmosis takes place. This pressure difference triggers the plant to bring in water through the root cell wall in order to create a balance in pressure, thus providing good amount of water to the plant, which will enable the plant to flourish and grow.

LAB REPORT

This experiment was carried out with an aim of estimating the Osmolarity of apple cells by weight.

Materials –

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Sucrose solutions 0.1, 0.2, 0.3,0.4, 0.5 0 molar distilled water

Metric ruler

150ml beakers

Balance Petri dish

DATA TABLE

Processed data



concentration

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

change in mass %

23

18

12

9

2

30 22.5 15 7.5 0

When :

Y=0 X=0.45

y = -51x + 23





0

...