Osmosis in Egg

PRESENTED BY

SANJAY PS

XII-A

LABORATORY CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project work

titled

Is a bonafide record done by: Sanjay PS

In partial fulfillment of the project in

Biology during the year 2015-2016

Mrs. Muthulakshmi (PGT Biology)

Signature

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all I convey my deep thanks to

Mrs.Muthulakshmi, Dept. of Biology

without whose guidance this project

would have become nothing. Last but not

the least I deeply acknowledge the help

given to me by my classmates whose

valuable tips and suggestions helped me

bring about such a project. I am deeply

indebted to them for also helping me

collect the relevant information from

many sources and also providing many

diagrams required to emphasise my

points.

CONTENTS

Abstract

Hypothesis

Scientific Terms

Theory

Materials Required

Procedure

Observation

Conclusion

Bibliography

Abstract

This science project was done to find out if

water will move through a semi permeable

membrane to a solution of higher

concentration. The science project experiment

was carried out using several eggs immersed in

distilled water and salt water.

Hypothesis

Water will pass through the shell of an egg, to

the side that has a solution of higher

concentration.

Scientific Terms

Osmosis, hypotonic, hypertonic, semi

permeable membrane, molecules

Background

Osmosis

Osmosis is the process by which water travels

through a semi permeable membrane from a

solution having a low concentration to a

solution having a higher concentration. The

solution with a low concentration is referred to

as a “hypotonic” solution, and the one with a

higher concentration is called “hypertonic”. The

purpose of this process is to equalize the

concentration of the solute on both sides of the

membrane.

The process of osmosis is very important for

living organisms. Cells use this process to pull

in and expel water from within the cell walls.

The walls of the cells act as the semi-permeable

membrane.

The membrane allows smaller molecules like

water to pass through but prevents larger

organic molecules from leaving the cell.

Plants use this process to absorb water from

the surrounding soil into their roots. Their roots

normally branch out in search of water and to

increase the surface area for absorbing water.

Materials

The materials required for this science project:

- 3 eggs

- 1200ml of distilled water

- 300gram of salt

- 1 measuring cylinder

- 3 beakers

- 1 weighing machine

- 1 spatula

- 3 piece of styrofoam cut to beaker size

- 1 black permanent marker pen

Procedure

1. For this science project, the independent

variable is the amount of salt in the water. The

dependent variable is the weight of the eggs

before and after being immersed in the

solution. This is determined by using a

weighing machine to check the weight of the

eggs. The constants (control variables) are the

amount of water used and the time during

which the eggs were immersed in the water.

2. The beakers are labeled A, B and C. 400ml

of water is filled into each of the beakers. In

the beaker labeled B, 100g of salt is poured in

and stirred using a spatula. Likewise, in

beaker C, 200g of salt is poured in and stirred

using the spatula.

3. The eggs are labeled A, B and C using the

marker pen. The weights of the eggs are

measured using the weighing machine and

recorded in the table given below.

4. Each of the eggs is then placed in beakers

labeled A, B and C. The cut styrofoam pieces

are placed inside the beakers to force the eggs

to remain fully immersed in the water. The

beakers and the eggs are put aside for 24

hours.

5. After 24 hours, i the eggs are removed from

the beakers and wiped dry. Their weights are

checked again using the weighing machine. The

new weights are recorded in the table given

below.

6. The weight difference of the eggs before

they were immersed in the water and after 24

hours is calculated and recorded. The percent

of weight difference is then calculated as

follows:

% weight difference = (final egg weight – initial

egg weight) / initial egg weight x 100%

Observation

The results show that the weight of the egg

placed in distilled water has increased, while

the eggs placed in salt water had decreased in

weight.

Solution Initial egg

weight (g)

Final egg

weight (g)

Weight difference

(g)

% weight change

Water 82.42 87.74 5.32 6.45%

Water & 100g salt

81.46 76.38 -5.08 -6.24%

Water &

200g salt

84.73 73.29 -11.44 -13.5%

The chart below represents the results of our

science project experiment.

Conclusion

Our hypothesis has been proven to be correct -

water will pass through the shell of an egg to

the side that has a solution of higher

concentration.

. In the case of the egg in beaker A, water from

outside the egg moved into the egg

increasing its weight. For the eggs in beakers B

and C, the water moved out of the

egg, diluting the salt water and reducing the

weight of the egg.

The osmosis and reverse osmosis process has

found its use in the water purification process.

Countries lacking in fresh water resources now

use this process for water recycling.

Also consider

The science project can be repeated by using

different soluble materials like sugar or syrup.

Repeat the science project experiment at

different temperatures to see if temperature

has any effect on the osmosis process.

Bibliography

Osmosis - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmosis How does reverse osmosis work? –

http://science.howstuffworks.com/reverse-osmosis.htm

http://www.all-science-fair-

projects.com/project1330_91_5.html

http://www.science-

sparks.com/2011/08/29/shrinking-eggs/

http://www.desertwind.us/blog/2011/06/eggmo

sis-osmosis-with-eggs/

http://www.sciencefairadventure.com/ProjectD

etail.aspx?ProjectID=72