Osmosis in Plant and Animal Cells

In this activity animal cells will be placed into three different solutions; corn syrup, water and an unknown solution. We will measure the initial mass, mass after 24 hours and use the following formula to calculate the percent change in mass.

Percent change = (Final mass– Original mass)

Original mass x 100%

Condition Initial Mass (g) Final Mass (g) Percent change in mass

Egg in corn syrup

Egg in water

Egg in unknown solution

Analysis:

1. In which of the solutions did the eggs show a decrease in size and mass? Explain why this occurred? Would this solution be hypertonic or hypotonic with reference to the intracellular conditions of the cell?

2. In which of the solutions did the eggs show an increase in size and mass? Explain why this occurred? Would this solution be hypertonic or hypotonic with reference to the intracellular conditions of the cell?

3. What effect did the unknown solution have on the egg? What type of solution was this? Explain