Observing Osmosis

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It is difficult to see osmosis occurring in cells because of the small size of the cell. However, there are a few cells that can be seen without the aid of a microscope. Try this activity to see how osmosis occurs in a large cell.

Problem: How does osmosis occur in an egg cell?

Materials

• Raw egg
• 500 ml beaker
• 250 ml vinegar
• 250 ml corn syrup
• 250 or larger graduated cylinder
• parafilm (or saran wrap)
• water

Day 1

____ Place the egg into the 500 ml beaker. Pour 250 ml of vinegar over the egg. Cover the beaker

____ After 30 minutes, record your observations in the data table

____ Let stand for two days

Day 2

____ Record the appearance of the egg in the data table.

____ Carefully pour the vinegar into a graduated cylinder, record the amount you now have in the data table.

____ Rinse the egg off and pour 250 ml of the corn syrup over the egg and cover. Let stand for two days.

Day 5

____ Record the appearance of the egg in the data table.

____ Carefully pour the corn syrup into a graduated cylinder. Record the amount in the data table.

____ Rinse off the egg and pour 250 ml of water over the egg. Cover and let stand for two days.

Day 7

____ Record the appearance of the egg in the data table

____ Carefully pour the water into a graduated cylinder and record the amount in the data table.

____ Dispose of your egg.

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Data Table

	Record the amount of liquid in the beaker in ml	Observations
Day 1
Day 3
Day 5
Day 7

Analysis

1. Describe what happened to the egg after it soaked in vinegar.

 

2. Describe what happened to the egg after it soaked in corn syrup.

 

3. How does OSMOSIS explain these observations.