In the permeability lab, I gained an understanding of the principles of diffusion and osmosis. Diffusion is the net movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. Osmosis is the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane from a region in which it is highly concentrated to an area that has a lower concentration. Selectively permeable membranes allow molecules with the correct molecular size to diffuse through; some molecules do not have the molecular structure that allows them to flow through. Osmosis is important because it helps distribute nutrients and discharge metabolic waste products. Cells use diffusion in order to perform simple tasks. Without osmosis, organelles would have a hard time carrying out duties; such like distribution of minerals and releasing waste. Molecules of all matter are in continual random motion called kinetic energy. Such movements cause molecules to collide constantly which makes the molecules and particles move or drift. This moving and drifting motion is known as Brownian motion. Tonicity is the term used when comparing solutions and is the relative amount of solutes in a solution when compared to another solution. A solute is a substance that is dissolved in a solution. A homogenous, liquid mixture of two or more substances make up a solution. The dissolving agent of a solution is called a solvent. Water is the most versatile solvent known. Solutions with a higher concentration of solutes are said to be hypertonic, while a solution with a lower concentration of solutes is labeled as hypotonic. Two solutions that contain equal concentrations of solutes are known to be isotonic. .
Purpose.
The purpose of this lab was to experiment the effects multiple sucrose solutions have on the weight of shell-less chicken eggs in order to demonstrate the process of Osmosis. .
Hypotheses.
Ha: The weight of the deshelled eggs will be affected by different sucrose.