Lab 4 Diffusion and Osmosis BIO201L
Student Name:
Access Code (located on the lid of your lab kit): AC-AQW1GW
Lab Report Format Expectations
Utilize college level grammar and professional formatting when completing this worksheet.
Submissions without proper formatting, all required photos or sufficient responses will be rejected. Pre-
lab Questions
1. Define the following terms.
a. hypertonic solution:
A hypertonic solution refers to a solution having a higher concentration of solutes
compared to the cell it surrounds. This results in a high solute concentration and a low
concentration of water within the solution.
b. hypotonic solution:
A hypotonic solution is one in which the concentration of solutes is lower than that of
the body fluids. This solution has a low solute concentration but a high concentration of
water. As a result, water flows from the external environment into the cell, causing the
cell to swell.
c. isotonic solution:
An isotonic solution has the same concentration of solutes inside and outside the cells.
2. Define osmotic pressure.
Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of low
solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration. Osmotic pressure is the force
needed to stop this water movement.
3. Explain what would happen to a cell placed in a hypertonic solution.
When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, it typically undergoes shrinkage. This occurs
because the solvent inside the cell moves outwards, moving from an area of lower solute
concentration inside the cell to the higher concentration of solute in the surrounding solution.
, Lab 4 Diffusion and Osmosis BIO201L
EXPERIMENT 1: DIFFUSION THROUGH A LIQUID
Introduction Questions
1. State the molecular weight of the blue dye in grams per mole.
Molecular weight = 793 g/mole.
2. State the molecular weight of the red dye in grams per mole.
Molecular weight = 496 g/mole.
3. Why does this experiment require two dyes of different molecular weights? Answer this
question, ensuring you explain the purpose of these two dyes in relation to the experiment.
Molecular weight is the measure of a molecule's mass, and in this experiment, two dyes with
different molecular weights are being used. The goal is to investigate how molecular weight
affects the rate of diffusion. The experiment aims to ascertain whether molecules with higher or
lower molecular weights diffuse more quickly in a concentrated environment.
Student Name:
Access Code (located on the lid of your lab kit): AC-AQW1GW
Lab Report Format Expectations
Utilize college level grammar and professional formatting when completing this worksheet.
Submissions without proper formatting, all required photos or sufficient responses will be rejected. Pre-
lab Questions
1. Define the following terms.
a. hypertonic solution:
A hypertonic solution refers to a solution having a higher concentration of solutes
compared to the cell it surrounds. This results in a high solute concentration and a low
concentration of water within the solution.
b. hypotonic solution:
A hypotonic solution is one in which the concentration of solutes is lower than that of
the body fluids. This solution has a low solute concentration but a high concentration of
water. As a result, water flows from the external environment into the cell, causing the
cell to swell.
c. isotonic solution:
An isotonic solution has the same concentration of solutes inside and outside the cells.
2. Define osmotic pressure.
Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of low
solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration. Osmotic pressure is the force
needed to stop this water movement.
3. Explain what would happen to a cell placed in a hypertonic solution.
When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, it typically undergoes shrinkage. This occurs
because the solvent inside the cell moves outwards, moving from an area of lower solute
concentration inside the cell to the higher concentration of solute in the surrounding solution.
, Lab 4 Diffusion and Osmosis BIO201L
EXPERIMENT 1: DIFFUSION THROUGH A LIQUID
Introduction Questions
1. State the molecular weight of the blue dye in grams per mole.
Molecular weight = 793 g/mole.
2. State the molecular weight of the red dye in grams per mole.
Molecular weight = 496 g/mole.
3. Why does this experiment require two dyes of different molecular weights? Answer this
question, ensuring you explain the purpose of these two dyes in relation to the experiment.
Molecular weight is the measure of a molecule's mass, and in this experiment, two dyes with
different molecular weights are being used. The goal is to investigate how molecular weight
affects the rate of diffusion. The experiment aims to ascertain whether molecules with higher or
lower molecular weights diffuse more quickly in a concentrated environment.
