SBI 4U NAME: _____________________
TRANSPORT THROUGH A CELL MEMBRANE LAB
Introduction:
This investigation will help you to determine how and under what circumstances materials will be transported across the
membrane of an egg. Depending on the concentration of water in an egg and that in its surrounding environment, water
may diffuse into or out of the egg. The egg will be placed into three different solutions, each with a different concentration
of water, to illustrate this effect.
Purpose:
To determine, by experiment, whether or not the cell membrane shows selectivity in passing material into and out of the
cell, and to make observations as this happens.
Materials
raw egg corn syrup (sucrose) vinegar cup
string water ruler
aluminum foil beaker
Procedure
Day One:
1. Measure the egg using the string and the ruler to determine its transverse and longitudinal circumference.
Record these in your observation table.
2. Place the egg into the cup and pour enough vinegar to cover the egg. Cover the cup with aluminum foil
3. Allow the egg to sit in the vinegar for two days.
Day Three:
1. Remove the egg from the cup very carefully. Rinse the egg with water.
2. Measure and record the two circumferences of the egg and record the data in your observation table.
3. Record any qualitative data/changes (colour, texture, etc.) that occurred in the egg.
4. Rinse the cup. Place the egg back into the cup and pour enough corn syrup to cover the egg. Cover with foil. Allow
the egg to sit in the corn syrup for one day.
Day Four:
1. Remove the egg from the cup very carefully. Rinse the egg with water.
2. Measure and record the two circumferences of the egg and record in your table.
3. Make note of any qualitative changes (colour, texture, etc.) that occurred in the egg.
4. Rinse the cup. Place the egg back into the cup and pour enough water to cover the egg with a drop of food colouring.
Cover with foil. Allow the egg to sit in the water for one day.
Day Five:
1. Remove the egg from the cup very carefully. Rinse the egg with water.
2. Measure and record the two circumferences of the egg and record in your table.
3. Make note of any qualitative changes (colour, texture, etc.) that occurred in the egg.
TRANSPORT THROUGH A CELL MEMBRANE LAB
Introduction:
This investigation will help you to determine how and under what circumstances materials will be transported across the
membrane of an egg. Depending on the concentration of water in an egg and that in its surrounding environment, water
may diffuse into or out of the egg. The egg will be placed into three different solutions, each with a different concentration
of water, to illustrate this effect.
Purpose:
To determine, by experiment, whether or not the cell membrane shows selectivity in passing material into and out of the
cell, and to make observations as this happens.
Materials
raw egg corn syrup (sucrose) vinegar cup
string water ruler
aluminum foil beaker
Procedure
Day One:
1. Measure the egg using the string and the ruler to determine its transverse and longitudinal circumference.
Record these in your observation table.
2. Place the egg into the cup and pour enough vinegar to cover the egg. Cover the cup with aluminum foil
3. Allow the egg to sit in the vinegar for two days.
Day Three:
1. Remove the egg from the cup very carefully. Rinse the egg with water.
2. Measure and record the two circumferences of the egg and record the data in your observation table.
3. Record any qualitative data/changes (colour, texture, etc.) that occurred in the egg.
4. Rinse the cup. Place the egg back into the cup and pour enough corn syrup to cover the egg. Cover with foil. Allow
the egg to sit in the corn syrup for one day.
Day Four:
1. Remove the egg from the cup very carefully. Rinse the egg with water.
2. Measure and record the two circumferences of the egg and record in your table.
3. Make note of any qualitative changes (colour, texture, etc.) that occurred in the egg.
4. Rinse the cup. Place the egg back into the cup and pour enough water to cover the egg with a drop of food colouring.
Cover with foil. Allow the egg to sit in the water for one day.
Day Five:
1. Remove the egg from the cup very carefully. Rinse the egg with water.
2. Measure and record the two circumferences of the egg and record in your table.
3. Make note of any qualitative changes (colour, texture, etc.) that occurred in the egg.
