In 1.1 the concept of size of particle and rate of diffusion is examined. The larger, heavier substances diffuse along the agar plate at a slower rate than the smaller, lighter substances. The results shown in graph 1.1 support the hypothesis that diffusion rate and molecular weight are inversely proportional. As predicted, the lightest substance, potassium permanganate, diffused the greatest distance during the time measured. The second lightest, potassium dichromate, diffused at the second greatest rate, and lastly, the heaviest substance, methylene blue, diffused at the slowest rate. The difference between diffusion rate of potassium permanganate and the other two substances was larger than expected because their molecular weights are
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Water is always pulled toward hypertonic solutions where there are fewer non-bound water molecules, and therefore, the sucrose tube begins to swell and gain volume as water moves inward. The water tube acts as a hypotonic solution when placed in the sucrose beaker, and as a result, it loses water, and the volume decreases. Data collected for 1.2 supports the prediction that H2O is permeable and will easily diffuse across the membrane. One result not expected was that the sucrose tube maintained an equal volume at time zero to time 15 min. This finding rejects the idea that a steeper concentration gradient results in faster diffusion because the concentration gradient is steepest at time zero. The measured volume of the distilled water tube at 45 min does support the claim that a steeper concentration gradient causes faster diffusion because the rate seems to slow as more and more water leaves the tube. The results also support the hypothesis that sucrose is too large and polar to diffuse across the membrane via simple diffusion. Errors in 1.2 include not measuring water displacement correctly, possibly tying the tubes too loosely resulting in leaking, and not placing exactly 4 mL of the designated solution in the tubes. The concepts focused on in this exercise play a significant role in everyday medicine. For example, when a patient experiences a trauma that makes cells swell a hypotonic …show more content…
The tubes are difficult to open and tie which could easily lead to tearing or leaking during the experiment. Also measuring more frequently may result in more accurate data. The uncertainty in 1.2 of whether or not a steeper concentration gradient allows for faster diffusion should be reexamined in order to find a clear answer. A future experiment could compare the diffusion rates of several concentration gradients of the same substance within different beakers. Overall, the data recorded for this experiment supports each of the hypothesis discussed, and is a reinforcement of physiological concepts discussed in
Water is always pulled toward hypertonic solutions where there are fewer non-bound water molecules, and therefore, the sucrose tube begins to swell and gain volume as water moves inward. The water tube acts as a hypotonic solution when placed in the sucrose beaker, and as a result, it loses water, and the volume decreases. Data collected for 1.2 supports the prediction that H2O is permeable and will easily diffuse across the membrane. One result not expected was that the sucrose tube maintained an equal volume at time zero to time 15 min. This finding rejects the idea that a steeper concentration gradient results in faster diffusion because the concentration gradient is steepest at time zero. The measured volume of the distilled water tube at 45 min does support the claim that a steeper concentration gradient causes faster diffusion because the rate seems to slow as more and more water leaves the tube. The results also support the hypothesis that sucrose is too large and polar to diffuse across the membrane via simple diffusion. Errors in 1.2 include not measuring water displacement correctly, possibly tying the tubes too loosely resulting in leaking, and not placing exactly 4 mL of the designated solution in the tubes. The concepts focused on in this exercise play a significant role in everyday medicine. For example, when a patient experiences a trauma that makes cells swell a hypotonic …show more content…
The tubes are difficult to open and tie which could easily lead to tearing or leaking during the experiment. Also measuring more frequently may result in more accurate data. The uncertainty in 1.2 of whether or not a steeper concentration gradient allows for faster diffusion should be reexamined in order to find a clear answer. A future experiment could compare the diffusion rates of several concentration gradients of the same substance within different beakers. Overall, the data recorded for this experiment supports each of the hypothesis discussed, and is a reinforcement of physiological concepts discussed in