TOPIC: Transport Across Membrane

(Experiment 1,2 and 3)

1.1.1 Experiment 1.
Introduction:
The study of transport across membrane focuses on effects of different solution
concentration on a plant cell. Isotonic, hypotonic and hypertonic solution give different effect
on the plant cell whether it shrinks, swells or maintain its shape.

Hypotonic solution is when water molecules move from a high water potential to a
low one because of diffusion. The net movement of water is into the cell by osmosis. Isotonic
solution is when the cell content has the same solute potential as the solution the cell is in.
Thus, there is no net movement of water. Hypertonic solution is the movement of water to a
higher solute concentration outside the cell. Hence, the net movement of water is out of the
cell by osmosis.
In this experiment, onion cell was used to differentiate its shape when a drop of
different concentration of sucrose solution is added to it. Any observation and results are
recorded.

Materials and Apparatus:

1.Onion

10. Magnetic stirrer/ stirring rod

2. Table sugar/ sucrose

11. Spatula

3. Distilled water
4. Small knife
5. Glass slide
6. Cover slip
7. Microscope
8. Beakers (250 ml & 500 ml)
9.Filterpaper

Results:

The structure of onion in distilled water.

The structure of onion in 5% of

sucrose solution.

The structure of onion in 30% of sucrose solution.

DISCUSSION

In the experiment,the changes in the shape of onion cell when a drop of 5% of sucrose
solution is added to the glass slide is unnoticable.This is because 5% of sucrose solution is an
isotonic solution. Isotonic solution has same solute potential with the cell content.
Therefore,the water molecules move in and out of the cell at the same rate.Thus,the cell
maintains its shape.

However , the onion cell swells when a drop of distilled water is added to the glass
slide.This is due to the distilled water being a hypotonic solution.Hypotonic solution causes
water molecules to move from a high water potential to a low one because of diffusion.
Thus,water moves into the cell by osmosis. Hence, the cell will swell and become turgid but
will not burst because of the existence of the cell wall.

When a drop of 30% sucrose solution is added to the onion cell,the cell shrink.This
results from 30% sucrose solution is a hypertonic solution. Hypertonic solution is solution
which contains low concentration of water than the concentration of water in cell content
.Hence,water from the cell moves out of the cell to the suroundings.The plasma membrane
begins to pull away from the cell wall and undergoes plasmolysis.

REFERENCE

1.http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?

qid=20061001202009AAq4Z87
2.http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080411214321AAVCu9V
3.http://internalandexternalenvironments2012.wikispaces.com/Hypertonic,
+hypotonic+and+isotonic+effects+on+plants+and+animal+cells.

1.1.2 Experiment 2
Introduction:

The study of transport across membrane focuses on effects of different solution

concentration on a plant cell. Isotonic, hypotonic and hypertonic solution give different effect
on the plant cell whether it shrinks, swells or maintain its shape.

Hypotonic solution is when water molecules move from a high water potential to
a low one because of diffusion. The net movement of water is into the cell by osmosis.
Isotonic solution is when the cell content has the same solute potential as the solution the cell
is in. Thus, there is no net movement of water. Hypertonic solution is the movement of water
to a higher solute concentration outside the cell. Hence, the net movement of water is out of
the cell by osmosis.

In this experiment, potato sticks are used to differentiate the effects of different
concentration of solution when they are immersed in different concentration of solution in
different test tubes respectively.

Materials and Apparatus:

1.Potato
2.Table salt/ NaCl
3.Distilled water
4. Small knife
5. Test tubes
6.Benchtop digital balance
7. Spatula

Results
Salt
concentrati
on, w/v

Initial
weight of
potato
stick, g

Final
weight of
potato
stick, g

Change in
weight, g

Water
loss /
gain

10% NaCl

2.02

0.85

1.95 0.81

-0.07 -0.04 3.47

4.71

Water
loss

3.5% NaCl

1.94

0.85

2.00 0.86

0.06

0.01

3.09

1.18

water
gain

0.88%
NaCl

2.12

0.84

2.21 0.90

0.09

0.06

4.25

7.14

Water
gain

Distilled
water

1.96

0.87

2.09 0.94

0.13

0.07

6.63

8.05

Water
gain

(T=thick potato strip, t=thin potato strip)

Change in
weight, %

Discussion:
Based on the results,there is an increase in the mass of potato sticks when they are
immersed in 0.88% NaCl solution and in distilled waterSo,0.88% NaCl solution and distilled
water are categorised as hypotonic solution.This is because water molecules diffuse from
outside which has high water potential into the cell which is low water potential.
However,potato sticks decrease in size when immersed in 10% NaCl solution and
3.5% NaCl solution.Thus,10% NaCl solution and 3.5% NaCl solution are hypertonic
solution.This is because water molecules diffuse out of the cell of potato sticks by osmosis
resulting in smaller size of potato sticks.

Reference:
1.http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061001202009AAq4Z87
2.http://internalandexternalenvironments2012.wikispaces.com/Hypertonic,
+hypotonic+and+isotonic+effects+on+plants+and+animal+cells.

1.1.3 Experiment 3
Introduction:
The study of transport across membrane focuses on effects of different solution
concentration on a plant cell. Isotonic, hypotonic and hypertonic solution give different effect
on the plant cell whether it shrinks, swells or maintain its shape.

Hypotonic solution is when water molecules move from a high water potential to
a low one because of diffusion. The net movement of water is into the cell by osmosis.
Isotonic solution is when the cell content has the same solute potential as the solution the cell
is in. Thus, there is no net movement of water. Hypertonic solution is the movement of water
to a higher solute concentration outside the cell. Hence, the net movement of water is out of
the cell by osmosis.

In this experiment, red blood cells are used to differentiate the effects of different
concentration when the red blood cells are mixed with different solution concentration in
different test tubes respectively.

Materials and Apparatus:

1.Table salt/ NaCl

7. Test tubes

2.Distilled water

8. Beakers (250 ml & 500 ml)

3.70% ethanol

9. Cotton

4. Glass slide

10. Lancet

5. Cover slip

11. Magnetic stirrer/ stirring rod

6. Microscope

12. Spatula

Results:

The structure of red blood cell in

The structure of red blood cell in

distilled water.

4.0% NaCl solution

The structure of red blood cell in 0.85% NaCl solution

Discussion:

1)

Based on the results, there is no difference in the shape of the red blood cell when

mixed with 0.85% NaCl solution. This is because 0.85% NaCl solution is an isotonic
solution. Thus, there is no net movement of water. Isotonic solution is when the cell content
has the same solute potential as the solution the cell is in.

2)

However, the red blood cell burst when it is mixed with distilled water. This is because

distilled water is a hypotonic solution. Hypotonic solution is when molecules move from a
high water potential to a low one because of diffusion. Thus, net movement of water is into
the cell by osmosis. Hence, the red blood cell will burst. The bursting of the red blood cell is
known as haemolysis.
3)

But when the red blood cell is mixed with 4.0% NaCl solution, the cell shrink.This is

because 4.0% NaCl solution is a hypertonic solution. Hypertonic solution is the movement of
water to a higher solute concentration outside the cell. The net movement of water is out of
the cell by osmosis. Thus, the red blood cell shrinks. The shrinking of red blood cell is known
as crenation.

References:
1.http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061001202009AAq4Z87
2.http://www.google.com.my/search?hl=enMY&gbv=2&q=isotonic+hypertonic+hypotonic+red+blood+cells&revid=1683992755&sa=
X&ei=dcXFUYfaFcnTrQehwYHADQ&ved=0CFMQ1QIoBQ
3.http://internalandexternalenvironments2012.wikispaces.com/Hypertonic,
+hypotonic+and+isotonic+effects+on+plants+and+animal+cells.