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4: Osmosis and Diffusion

Last updated

Jan 3, 2021
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- 3.7: Enzyme Kinetics with Spectrovis
- 4.1: Introduction

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4.1: Introduction
The cell membrane is the barrier that separates the cytoplasm from the external world. The cell membrane consists primarily of phospholipids in a bilayer. Phospholipids are amphipathic with a polar head (phosphate group) and a hydrophobic tail (2 hydrocarbon chains). Due to the chemical properties of the heads being attracted to water and the tails having a desire to avoid water, phospholipids self-assemble into micelles.
4.2: Why Are Cells Small? (Activity)
In this lab, you will perform a simulation using agar cubes (representing cells) and figure out why cells are generally extremely small.
4.3: Do Larger Things Diffuse Faster? (Activity)
Agar is a gelatinous substance derived from a structural carbohydrate found in seaweed. It is often used in cooking as a vegetarian alternative to gelatin and can be used as a thickener. Altering the amount of fluid solution will change the pores between fibers. More fluid will create a looser gel that has larger spaces between molecules. Reducing the fluid solution volume will conversely create a stiffer gel with smaller spaces between fibers.
4.4: Gummy Bears- Tonicity (Activity)
We’re all familiar with gelatin (Jello!). Gummy candies are made of gelatin. Gelatin is a protein that exists as long fibers. When gelatin is dissolved in a liquid and cooled, the gelatin fibers tangle together in a mesh-like network. Gummy candies are considerably more firm than the gelatin molds we have as desserts because they contain a lot less fluid. Like a cell, a gummy candy placed in solution will be affected by the properties of osmosis when submerged in different solutions.
4.5: Observing Osmosis (Activity)
In this lab, you will hypothesize and observe what happens when bags filled with different concentrations of sucrose is placed in beakers with different concentrations of sucrose.
4.6: Agar Cubes (Preparation)
In this page, you will find instructions on how to prepare the Agar Cube used in the "Why Are Cells Small" activity.

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