Osmosis in Plants
Date: 16-09-2019 and 23-09-2019
Lab partners: Nicolle Quinones, Hannah Karlsson and Fatemah Soltani
In 1826, somewhere in France, Henri Dutrochet discovered a simple process, osmosis. Understanding
osmosis is the main subjective of the experiments in this lab report.
Purpose:
The purpose of the experiments conducted is to understand how a cell membrane operates through
osmosis and the effect it has on plant cells.
The aim of experiment 1 is to observe changes in red onion cells size and form under a microscope while
immersed in distilled water (hypotonic solution) as well as different concentrations of saline solution
(hypertonic solution).
The aim of experiment 2 is to investigate the length change of potato strips over a period of 45 minutes
while immersed in distilled water (hypotonic solution) as well as different concentrations of saline
solution (hypertonic solution).
Theoretical background:
Cells have a varied range of conditions that are essential for their survival. Factors such as temperature,
tonicity and how acidic or basic they are, affect their functioning. Cell membranes have a double-layered
structure (fluid mosaic model) which is mainly composed of phospholipids. The two layers face opposite
directions as one faces the internal cytoplasm and the other faces the external environment. These
inward-and-outward facing sides are hydrophilic as they get attracted to watery environments. The inner
side lies under are hydrophobic and get repelled by watery environments. The bilayer lipids make up
about half of the total mass of the cell membrane. About 20% of the lipids in animal cells are made up of
cholesterol, but that’s not the case in plant cells as cholesterol is not found in plants. [1]
Cell membranes are semi-permeable membranes that protect the interior of the cells. The semi-permeable
membrane and allow only certain particles to pass into the cell. Larger molecules, e.g. water molecules,
pass through special protein channels (Aquaporins) passive transport that does not require energy (ATP).
[2]
Usually, molecules follow a process called diffusion where water molecules move from a high
concentrated area to low concentrated area. Eventually, they reach an equilibrium where there will be
equal concentrations on both sides on the membrane. However, in the case of liquids like salt water, the
salt molecules are too big to fit through the cell membrane. Thus, the only particles that can move are
water molecules.[3] This particular process is called osmosis. Osmosis is “the movement of any solvent
through a selectively permeable membrane into an area of higher solute concentration” which results
later on in equalizing solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane. The equilibrium has
significant importance for the optimal function of the cell and it’s efficiency as the balance is it’s
preferred state in a natural environment. Osmosis is a form of passive transport and does not require
energy (ATP) [4]
There are three types of solutions where osmosis plays a key role:
In case a cell is placed into a hypertonic solution, the solute concentration will be higher outside of the
cell. Therefore, water molecules, seeking equilibrium, will diffuse out of the cell and move towards the
hypertonic solution. Hence, the cell will become dry and flaccid to make up for the excessive amount of
solute outside the cell membrane. In some cases, it can be so extremely dry that the cell membrane
detaches from the cell and plasmolysed. The cell will eventually die without water to move the molecules
inside of it. [5]
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In case a cell is placed into a hypotonic solution, the solute concentration will be higher inside of the
cell. Once again, the cell seeks equilibrium for an optimal environment. Contracting the situation
mentioned before in the hypertonic solution, water molecules will instead move into the cell. Excessive
water intake causes the cell to swell up too much and burst, which would cause the cell’s death. [6]
Lastly, if a cell is placed into an isotonic solution, then the concentrations of the solutes are even and
water molecules move in and out of the cell equally or at an equal rate. Osmosis does occur, but the cell
does not shrink not swell since it happens at a balanced pace. [6]
Pure, distilled water is of 100% water, while a liquid that consists of water with solutes has water
percentage lower than 100%. Though in this case, it is not considered as water concentration and is called
instead water potential. Osmosis can then be expressed as water flowing across the cell membrane from a
high water potential to lower water potential. [6]
Cell organelles (vacuoles):
Inside the cell, several organelles are compactly packed in the cytoplasm. The most essential cell
organelle in, cell plants mainly, for osmosis is the vacuole. The vacuole is liquid-filled organelle that the
is enclosed by its membrane, tonoplast. Vacuoles use osmosis to absorb water and swell which creates an
internal pressure against the cell. This particular process provides the cell with stability and support. [7]
General Equipment/Material:
➔ beaker
➔ Pipette
➔ 6 test tubes
➔ marker pen
➔ ruler
➔ forceps
➔ microscope gadget (cover glass, object glass)
➔ Petri dish
➔ distilled water
➔ Saline solution (salt solution)
➔ red onion scale
➔ knife/scalpel
➔ 1-2 potatoes (cut into 6 sticks almost identical)
Experiment 1: Osmosis in red onion cells
Hypothesis:
I predict that adding a saline solution to a red onion’s outer cell membrane will cause the cell’s vacuole to
shrink in size due to becoming hypertonic depending on the saline concentration used.
Chemicals and concentrations:
Concentration Saline Saline Total Volume Distilled Water Volume
1.0 M 10 ml 0 ml
0.7 M 7 ml 3 ml
0.3 M 3 ml 7 ml
0M 0 ml 10 ml
Procedure:
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1. Add Saline solution with concentrations 1.0 M, 0.7 M, 0.3 M as well as distilled water into four
separate Petri dishes. Saline solutions should be prepared beforehand.
2. Slice small fragments of the red onion skin. Slice away the dry surface of the red onion scale and
then proceed to the interior of the onion. Peel off a thin layer of the epidermis (over-skin, cell layer)
from a red surface of the onion using forceps.
3. Put at least 3 slices in each petri dish that are previously prepared and let it sit for about 10
minutes.
4. Add a drop of the same solution that the red onion slices had been sitting in earlier on an object-
glass, then the red onion slices and finally cover them with a cover glass.
5. Examine and compare the changes that had occurred under the microscope.
Results/Data Analysis:
0M 0.3 M 0.7 M 1.0 M
Figure 1: Distilled water Figure 2: The cells were Figure 3 The cells shrank Figure 4: The difference
used. The cells expanded placed in a solution with to almost half the size as here is clear as it is obvious
slightly. The cells are packed concentration 0.3 M. One well as had a lighter that the onion cells shrank
together with little to almost can see a small difference as magenta pigment compared by about 80% and have a
no space between them. they shrunk in size by about to the onion cells tested bright pink pigment now.
10% as they have more space before.
between them compared to
0 M.
Experiment 2: Osmosis in potato sticks
Hypothesis:
I predict that the higher the saline concentration is, the more obvious the change in size and length of
the potato strip is. I even suspect that the potato in distilled water (0 M) will weigh the most and grow in
size by the end of the experiment.
Chemicals and concentrations:
Saline solution Volume Saline Volume distilled
concentration solution water
0M 0 ml 12 ml
0.2 M 4 ml 16 ml
0.4 M 8 ml 12 ml
0.6 M 12 ml 8 ml
0.8 M 16 ml 4 ml
1M 20 ml 0 ml
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Procedure:
1. Fill 6 test tubes with saline solutions of the distilled concentrations: 0.2 M, 0.4 M, 0.6 M, 0.8 M,
1.0 M as well as distilled water (0M).
2. Slice six equally long potato sticks. Measure how long they are so that their length is as identical
as possible.
3. Put each slice in a test tube and leave them for about 45 minutes.
4. After the designated time has passed, take them out and measure their length and feel their
consistency.
Results/Data Analysis:
Concentration Saline Length before Length after Percentage change
(cm) (cm)
0M 8 8,35 + 4,375%
0.2 M 8 7,82 - 2.25%
0.4 M 8 7,80 - 2.5%
0.6 M 8 7,65 - 4.375%
0.8 M 8 7,60 - 5%
1.0 M 8 7,50 - 6.25%
Figure 5. Potato sticks’ length difference after the experiment.
From the left 0 M to the right 1 M. Figure 6. Potato sticks’ texture after the experiment. From the
left 0 M to the right 1 M.
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Equation: -1.81x + 1.85
R2 = 0.805
Discussion:
Experiment 1: Osmosis in red onion cells
As earlier mentioned, the aim of this experiment was to observe the effects of osmosis on red onion cells.
It was hypothesized that the red onion cells would either expand or shrink depending on the saline
concentration that they were placed in. The results and observations after the experiment was conducted
proved the hypothesis to be correct. Referring to figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 above, a connection between the
cell’s size and the solute’s concentration can be noticed. After a closer look, one can note that the
appearance of the pigment in the red cell onions changes according to how concentrated the solute is.
As seen in figure 7,the red onion cells are placed into a hypertonic solution
(high saline concentration). There are red onion cells that are traced in
green that do have a pigment inside of them. While other cells, traced in
blue, do not have any pigment whatsoever inside of them. It is noticeable
that the pigment is not taking up full space inside of the cell wall. This
depends on the fact that water has been removed by osmosis from those
cells.
Simply explained, water is flowing out of the cells because, according to
the principle of osmosis, it will flow from an area of high concentration to Figure 7: Green-traced cells have
an area of low concentration. However, the pigment does not flow out of pigment inside of them as the red-
traced part is shrunken cell
the cell since the cell membrane is selectively permeable. Instead, it membrane that detached from the
shrinks into a smaller area of the cell wall space. cell wall. Blue-traced cells have no
pigment whatsoever.
In figure 8, those cells are in a hypotonic solution (low saline
concentration) instead. Cells here have more dissolved particles on the
inside of the cell and fewer dissolved particles outside of the cell. Thus,
the outside of the cell will have a higher water concentration than inside
of the cell. Once again, osmosis occurs. These cells that were placed in
distilled water, the water should flow into the cell and the cells should
expand. Since the cells are in a hypotonic solution (low solute) since the
water is more highly concentrated outside of the cell. Water is going to
flow into these cells. The cell walls traced in yellow do have a pigment figure 8: Yellow-traced cells have
inside of them. On the other hand, the blue traced cells do not have pigment while blue-traced cells do
not.
pigment on the inside of the cells.
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Experiment 2: Osmosis in potato sticks
It was hypothesized that the potato sticks’ length would change depending on the molarity of the saline
solution that the potato was soaked into. The results shown in this lab report prove the hypothesis. As
seen in figure 5, the effect of the osmotic activity on the potato lengths could be seen. Referring to the
table above, length changes (in cm) were measured and noted down. The main reason for the length
changes is osmosis as stated in my hypothesis. Furthermore, the texture of the potato sticks after the
experiment differed from before and there were varying textures depending on the molarity.
0M The potato piece gained mass as it became longer and had a harder texture than before the
experiment. When the potato piece was placed into the distilled water (0 M), the
concentration of the salt (solute) was higher inside the cells. On the contrary, the water’s
(solvent) concentration was higher outside the cells. Therefore, the water molecules moved
inside the cells since the solute was not able to pass the semi-permeable membrane and
thus increasing the length of the potato piece.
0.2 M Unlike placing the potato piece in distilled water, placing it in different saline
0.4 M concentrations had the opposite effect. The potato sticks lost more mass and shrank more
0.6 M the higher the saline concentration was. The texture was also affected as the potato sticks
0.8 M became more flexible and easier to bend if the saline concentration became higher. This is,
1M once again because of osmosis. The potato sticks have lower salt (solute) concentration
inside their cells and higher water (solvent) concentration. Due to their will to achieve
equilibrium, the water moves out from the cell which leads the cell to shrink in size as it
loses volume. Simply put, the potato sticks placed into the 1 M concentrated solution
shrank much more than the ones placed into the 0.2 M concentrated solution.
The graph above describes the ratio between the solute’s concentration and the size change. The
intersection point between the x-line and the line itself implies that the cell and the solution are in an
isotonic state. An equilibrium has been established which indicates that water molecules are moving in
and out of the cell with the same velocity. Reading the graph can inform about at which solute
concentration that equilibrium will be reached. It is estimated that equilibrium will be reached when the
solute’s concentration is about 0.22 M.
To conclude, water molecules are highly attracted to salt molecules. The positive parts of the water
molecule stick to the negative parts of the sodium chloride and vice versa. The interactions between
oxygen and sodium, and between hydrogen and chlorine are ion-dipole interactions. Water molecules
that are not stuck to a salt molecule are more likely to relocate. That is when osmosis occurs trying to
balance the cell’s concentrations.
When cells are placed into a hypotonic solution (e.g. distilled water), water molecules are going to enter
the cells and the cell membrane is going to fill up with water completely filling the space. When cells are
placed in a hypertonic solution (e.g. saline solution), water molecules are going to leave the cell and the
cell membrane space is going to shrink and detach from the cell wall.
Source of error
All scientific experiments have a possibility of being conducted with error to some degree. However,
errors are not mistakes due to the experimenter’s clumsiness, carelessness or sloppiness. A possible
source of error could be that the potato strips were not accurately the same size. To avoid this error, one
could either use a cork borer so that the potato strips have, as much as possible, the same length and
diameter. Another way to be sure of the differences before and after in a more accurate way would be
weighing the potato strips and comparing their mass changes since mass is also affected by osmosis.
Another possible source of error could be that the experiment was conducted under a relatively short
period of time (about 45) minutes. If the potato strips were instead left in the solutions for a longer
period of time, the results would have clearer and more precise.
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For the red onion cells’ experiment, three onion skin pieces were used for better comparison and results.
Nevertheless, since some were hard to see, too small or too big or when the water had leaked in, the view
was disturbed. Therefore, having more than three pieces would have been better.
Both experiments, where the results were used, were conducted once. If they were to be done more than
once or if the same experiment is conducted twice under the same time, one could compare the results
between both to get more exact data and results.
The experiment with potato sticks had to be conducted twice since the experimenters forgot to measure
the length of the potato sticks before performing the experiment. Another mistake worth mentioning
was that the experimenters did not take any ‘standard’ photo of how the red onion cells looked like when
they are not placed in any solution. Thus, the comparison between the cells in the distilled water and the
cells before the experiment could not be seen. However, this error was solved by deducing from the
abnormally expanded cell membranes as well as comparison with already existent normal red onion
cells on the internet.
References:
1. Kevin Beck (2018). Cell Membrane: Definition, Function, Structure & Facts [accessed: 4, October
2019] https://sciencing.com/cell-membrane-5444309.htm
2. Regina Bailey (2017) Cell Membrane Function and Structure. [Accessed: 4, October 2019]
https://www.thoughtco.com/cell-membrane-373364
3. KhanAcademy (2010). Diffusion and Osmosis: Membranes and Transport [Accessed: 8 October
2019] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aubZU0iWtgI
4. Amoeba Sisters (2018). Osmosis and Water Potential (Updated) [Accessed 1 October 2019]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-osEc07vMs
5. John Staughton (2019). What is Osmosis: Definition, Diagram, Examples and Explanation
[Accessed 4 October 2019] https://www.scienceabc.com/pure-sciences/what-is-osmosis-
definition-biology-diffusion.html
6. Händelser vid Cellmembran [Accessed: 20, September 2019]
https://classroom.google.com/u/0/c/Mzc1Njk2NzI1ODRa/m/MjA3ODE0ODQ5MDVa/details
7. Rebecca Epstein (2019). Vacuoles: Definition, Funktions, Structure [Accessed: 20, September
2019] https://sciencing.com/vacuoles-definition-function-structure-13717293.html
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