Diffusion and Osmosis

Study Guide

Background
Molecules move across the selective barrier called the plasma membrane according to
their physical and chemical properties. If this process is driven by the potential energy
stored in the form of a concentration gradient, it is called passive transport. Passive
transport occurs without any additional energy supply by the cell. Molecules move from an
area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration in a process called
diffusion.

In the first virtual lab activity, we use an artificial membrane called dialysis tubing to mimic
the cell membrane. Dialysis tubing is made of cellulose (polymer of glucose) and it acts
as a semipermeable barrier much like a real cell membrane. It is selective for which
molecules can pass through the dialysis membrane simply based on the size of the pores
found in the wall of the membrane. Small molecules will be allowed to pass through while
blocking larger molecules.

Virtual Labs

I. Diffusion across a selective permeable membrane

1. Diffusion is a passive process that moves substances from an area of

2. How do we test for the presence of starch using iodine (IKI)?

3. What is the best hypothesis for this experiment and why?

4. Why don’t we need to use a strip to test for the presence of starch inside or
outside the dialysis tubing?

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 5. Dialysis tubing is a selectively permeable membrane made with the
macromolecule, cellulose. Starch, glucose, water and the IKI reagent are
contained within the dialysis membrane in solution B shown below. Solution A in
the beaker, at the start of the experiment in panel (a) contains just water.
Diffusion of these molecules occurs, over time, from panels (a)-(c). The only
selective criterion for diffusion across a dialysis membrane is the size of the
molecule.

Glucose

Starch

a. Between water, (H2O), iodine (I2K; aka IKI), glucose (C6H12O6), and starch (50+(C6H12O6),
which molecule(s) are considered small and therefore likely to pass through a dialysis
membrane (Look at the image above, as time progresses, for help)?

b. Which of these molecules will diffuse the fastest? Why?

c. Do you think the solution volume inside the dialysis tubing (B) will increase or decrease
based on the direction of molecule movement (the actual volume in panel (C) does not
appear to change because the volume change is small)? Why?

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II. Osmosis - Tonicity in Elodea cells (plant cells)

A specific type of diffusion that deals with the movement of water molecules across the
membrane down its concentration gradient is called osmosis. Since water molecules
are permeable to the cell membrane, its movement across the membrane depends on
the relative concentration of solutes. Solutes are any substance that are dissolved in
the solvent. The solvent is any liquid that is capable of dissolving substances. With
these definitions in mind, we can formulate the following equation to demonstrate the
composition of any solution.

Solution (100%) = Solvent (H2O %) + Solute (%)

The solvent in a living system is water and the direction of water movement is dependent
upon the solute concentration across the membrane. If the membrane is permeable to
water molecules but not to solutes, water molecules will diffuse from the solution with
lower solute concentration (hypotonic solution) toward the solution with greater solute
concentration (hypertonic solution). If solute concentrations are equal (isotonic
solution), the rate of water molecules moving across the membrane will be the same.

Plant cells response to changing tonicity in the environment. However, plant cells,
unlike animal cells, have a semi-rigid cell wall on the outside of the plasma
membrane. The cell wall retains the general cell shape even when the osmotic
pressure has changed. When water rushes in, the plasma membrane swells, which
increases the pressure of the cytoplasm against the cell wall. This is known as
turgor pressure. The opposite response to turgor pressure happens when water
moves out of the cell. The cytoplasm shrinks and peels away from the cell wall. This
is known as plasmolysis. The internal solute concentration of the plant cell is
approximately 1%. By changing the solute concentration of the environment, the
plant cells will respond accordingly.

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1. Name three different osmotic environments: ,
, and .

2. When solute concentration is equal across the membrane, it is known as an

3. When the solute concentration is greater on one side of the membrane, the
environment with the greater solute concentration is known as the
_____________________ environment.

4. When solute concentration is lower in an environment compared to the other side

5. Explain why plant cells do not “diminish” in overall size when they lose water.

6. What is the best hypothesis for this experiment?

7. What do you observe from the Elodea cells that were placed in DI water? Draw
two Elodea cells. Label the cell wall, chloroplasts, and cytoplasm.

8. What causes the cytoplasm of Elodea cells to shrink in size when placed in a
hypertonic solution (10% NaCl)?

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III. Osmosis - Tonicity in Red Blood Cells (animal cells)

Normal red blood cells have a solute concentration of 1%. When the environment
contains 1% solute, the cell is in an isotonic environment. When the environment
contains a solute concentration greater than 1%, the cell is hypotonic compared to the
environment (the environment is hypertonic).

1. What is one major structural difference between animal cells and plant cells that
protects plant cells from bursting when exposed to hypotonic environments?

2. Which osmotic conditions will result in cloudy blood solutions? Why?

3. What is the best hypothesis for this experiment?

4. Why do blood cells in 10% NaCl solution crenate?

5. How would you describe the shapes of blood cells in isotonic and hypertonic
environments?

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6. Using the proper terminology to describe cell shape in each picture,
correlate each picture to the tonicity (isotonic, hypertonic, hypotonic)
that created those cell shapes.

Plant cell shape:

Red Blood Cell shape:

Red Blood Cell shape: