Investigating The Rate Of Diffusion Of Different Size Cubes Essay

Cells and molecules in the environment are constantly moving and changing, for cells to function properly there is a need for equilibrium to be met. The size of the cell and the solution outside of the cell affects the rate of diffusion and osmosis in the cell. Cells are constantly trying to reach an equilibrium with the molecules and substances around it, which is why there are such terms as: hypertonic, hypotonic and isotonic. The procedures allowed testing of whether or not surface area or volume increased diffusion and how different substance control diffusion. Cells are constantly moving to reach equilibrium through diffusion and osmosis.

Will increasing the concentration of the same solution influence the rate of diffusion, was asked and hypothesized that the rate of diffusion will increase at higher concentrations. However, it is not believed that the higher concentrations will influence diffusion in a membrane that a solution can not fit through.

The purpose of this experiment was to test diffusion of molecules across the cell membrane to see which factor of time, concentration, and mass took effect of increase or decrease of diffusion over time.

The following hypothesis was made in regard to effect of the concentration gradient on the rate of diffusion: The higher the concentration gradient, the faster the rate of diffusion.

In order to assimilate diffusion through a permeable membrane potassium permanganate and methylene blue were used in experiment. The objective was to compare the rates at which the liquid compound of different molecular weight diffused through agar. This was achieved by obtaining agar in a petri dish with two wells to hold the liquid compounds. The rate was measured by time and diameter distance diffused. This process was observed for 60 minutes at 15 minute intervals.

The claim to this Agar Pieces lab is that the cells that have a larger surface area to volume ratio are more efficient at diffusing essential nutrients. Another solution, is the rate of diffusion is related to cell size. Nutrients diffuse at a faster rate through small cells than they do through large cells. In this lab of Agar gel, the purpose of this experiment is to find the surface area and volume of the cell that may affect the ability of the molecule to be able to diffuse the cellular space.

In conclusion, the potato cube with the highest surface area to volume ratio (the 1x1x1 cube) had the fastest rate of diffusion as it had the largest percentage increase in mass. While all the other cubes of potato had larger increases in mass at face value compared to the smallest cube, the smallest cube had the largest overall gain in percentage. The results support my hypothesis that the smallest cube will have a higher rate of osmosis because it has a proportionally larger amount of surface area compared to its volume.

Diffusion is the transfer of molecules from an area that has a higher concentration to an area that has a lower concentration. Osmosis is the diffusion of water. The purpose of this experiment was to study the process of osmosis. In order to test osmosis, eggs that had been soaking in vinegar were taken and placed in four beakers of solution with different levels of glucose. Using this experiment we were able to determine the rate of osmosis of different solutions, with various amounts of glucose, through eggs. In the results of this lab it was found that the eggs were either hypertonic or hypotonic and that the

A model cell was made of a visking tube filled with ‘cell contents’. The cell contents represent the cytoplasm of a cell structure membrane. The visking tube represents the plasma membrane of the cell. It acts as a semi-permeable barrier as

The diffusion lab required the class to explore the concept of diffusion, using dialysis tubing as a model of a selectively permeable membrane. We were able to observe the random kinetic energy of glucose, IKI, and water molecules through the dialysis tubing as the molecules moved themselves between the solutions in the beaker and the dialysis bag. After 30 minutes, the solution in the beaker tested positive for the presence of glucose, proving that the glucose molecules had diffused from the bag to the beaker. The IKI solution must have also diffused across the membrane because although initially only the solution in the beaker contained IKI, the solution within the dialysis bag turned purple-black by the end of 30 minutes, indicating that

When discussing and interpreting diffusion, it is essential to understand the importance of kinetic energy and how it is often times associated with the process of diffusion within the human body. One of the key principles of kinetic energy involve random molecular motion. This kinetic principle, random molecular motion, is one of the direct results of the process called diffusion. Diffusion is best described as “the net movement of a substance (liquid or gas) from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration” (Hill 2007). The combination of these substances often times eventually create a single homogenous mixture.

2.1. Diffusion is the spontaneous kinetic movement by which molecules move from an area of a high concentration to an area of low concentration. Diffusion continues until it reaches equilibrium. Osmosis is similar to Diffusion but it’s the process in which water moves across a semi-permeable membrane and goes to the higher concentration of solute.1

For the first lab, you will work out the experiment for the diffusion rate through a semisolid. First you will be given a petri dish that should contain potassium permanganate, but for safety reasons, you will be given one with food coloring instead. The food coloring should be from the center, and your instructor will provide you with the time zero (23.25 hrs). With the petri dish, you will then measure the length of the food coloring up to where the color ends in millimeters.

Passive diffusion, also known as simple diffusion, is used to describe the exergonic reaction of a substance where the substance passes in the direction of the concentration gradient. Most of the molecules move from the area of high concentration, inside the membrane of a cell, to the outside where there is

viii) Because of transpiration pull and cohesion or adhesion of water molecules, the water moves in the xylem vessels as