Osmosis Jones

Osmosis Virtual Lab

What happens to cells in different environments? ​

What causes water to move into and out of cells?
How does osmosis play a role in maintaining homeostasis?

Record all information as you work through the virtual lab that is embedded on the next slide!

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Multiple Select

Which of the following variables are constants in the Cell Homeostasis Virtual Lab?

• The amount of time the dialysis tubes are exposed to the sugar solutions in the beakers

• The amount of water in the dialysis tubes

• The type of solute (dissolved solid)

• The amount of water in the beakers

• The percent concentration of sugar solution in dialysis tubes B-E

Multiple Choice

Which variable in the Cell Homeostasis Virtual Lab is independent?

• The number of beakers in the investigation

• The change in percent concentration of dissolved sugar

• The change in mass of the dialysis tubes

• The amount of time the dialysis tubes were exposed to the sugar solutions in the beakers

Multiple Choice

Water flows into and out of cells. True or false?

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What piece of lab equipment listed below is most accurate when used to measure the volume of a liquid?

• Beaker

• Graduated Cylinder

• Scale

• Petri Dish

Dropdown

If the percent concentration is greater in the fluid outside a cell than inside a cell, water will flow ​

Select answer

the cell.

Multiple Choice

If the percent concentration is equal on both inside and outside a cell, water does not move into or out of the cell

• True

• False

Dropdown

If the percent concentration is greater in the fluid inside a cell than outside a cell, water will flow ​

Select answer

the cell.

Labelling

Let's put some science words with what you've learned. Look at the images of the beaker and the dialysis tube. The percent concentration of both fluids is different. There is 0% sugar in the beaker and 10% sugar in the dialysis tube. Think of it from the water's point of view. There is 100% water in the beaker and 90% in the dialysis tube. So the beaker has a higher concentration of water than the dialysis tube. If you put the dialysis tube in the beaker, the water will flow across the tube's membrane into the tube. The term for the diffusion of water across a membrane from a higher concentration of water to a lower concentration of water is osmosis. Take a moment to make a sketch. Label this here and on your paper, draw arrows from the beaker to the dialysis tube to show the flow of water. Then, write the definition of osmosis in your own words.​

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

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These next three words are used to describe the comparative relation between the internal and external fluid environments of a cell. Examine the original meanings of the prefixes and root of the following words.

​Put each prefix with the root and you get the words hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic. Now put the images with the words. Remember that these words describe the comparative relation between the two fluid environments.

Hypotonic Solutions

During the Cell Homeostasis Virtual Lab, dialysis tube C is placed into a hypotonic solution in beaker C. Solution C has a sugar concentration of 5%, which is below the 10% concentration in the dialysis tube. Consequently, the water will flow across the membrane and into the dialysis tube.

Isotonic Solutions

Look at the comparative concentrations of dialysis tube D and beaker D. Is one higher or lower than the other? Would you say they are equal? Which word would you use to describe the relation between the two? If you chose isotonic, you are correct. Water molecules would still flow into and out of the dialysis tube through the membrane.

Hypertonic Solutions

Last, examine and compare the concentrations in beaker E and dialysis tube E. In the Cell Homeostasis Virtual Lab, dialysis tube E is placed in the hypertonic solution in beaker E. What did you record in the chart you made during the lab? Did the dialysis tube gain water or lose water? If you said the tube lost water, you are correct!

Osmosis

Think of it from the water's point of view. Water flows across a cell's membrane from a higher concentration of water to a lower concentration of water. What is the process called? Osmosis. It might help to remember this phrase: "Higher to drier."

Categorize

Options (9)

Organize these options into the right categories

Hypertonic

Isotonic

Hypotonic

Open Ended

Use what you have learned today to explain, in your own words, how osmosis plays a role in maintaining homeostasis.