Diffusion Lab

         

During science, a diffusion lab was conducted. The purpose of the lab was to learn how the cell membrane works. In the beginning, the prediction was that some of the iodine mixture would enter the bag causing the corn starch mixture to fizz a little. As predicted, the iodine diffused the baggie due to osmosis which let only some of the molecules inside. After fifteen minutes or so, the starch mixture inside the baggie turned purple which made the starch an indicator. A factor that helps change the color of the indicator is by concentration, or more strength or amount of solution. If the solution is dilute, that means the mixture is thinner or has more water. In the case of the lab, the baggie was hypotonic (less concentrated), and the beaker was hypertonic (more concentrated). When the baggie was placed in the beaker, the semi permeable bags membrane allowed the iodine mixture to enter the baggie and make the baggie and beaker isotonic (equal) to each other.

There are a lot of ways this lab has assisted in learning about a real cell. Just like a real cell, the baggie acted as a cell membrane allowing only some smaller elements to pass through while the bigger elements stayed in place. It also keeps the balance between both sides, the outside and inside of the cell. This way it is obvious that even a plastic bag has the basic parts of a cell.

More similarities, the baggie shares many other connections to real life. Such as sugar will diffuse though the tea until the entire cup of tea is sweet. The smell of food cooking diffuses the kitchen making the odor go to the neighboring rooms. Releasing a drop of ink into a glass of water diffuses the ink into the water. Also, sunlight through a filtered glass diffuses the light into a room. Based on the examples above, we can thereby conclude that diffusion is used prevalent in our everyday life.