Experimental report

Running head : CELLS

Diffusion , Osmosis , and Cells

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Abstract

This experiment focused on the principles of osmosis and diffusion . This scientific work has explored the factors that influence the rate of diffusion of materials in solid and liquid media . Potassium permanganate (KMnO4 ) and methylene blue were allowed to diffuse in agar at 4 ?C , room temperature , and 37 ?C . The experiment showed that , at the same temperature and molecular weight , KMnO4 (159 amu ) diffused faster than methylene blue (320 amu . Both of these substances diffused

at a faster rate at higher temperatures . The effect of medium onto which substances diffused was also studied by determining the diffusion rate of KMnO4 in both water and agar media . Potassium permanganate diffused faster in liquid medium than in agar that is 3500 and 133 micrometer per minute respectively . It was proven then , that molecular weight , temperature and diffusion medium affect diffusion rate . Moreover , the principles of osmosis in both plant and animal cells were taken into account . A sample fruit from supermarket , stripped and soaked into NaCl solutions of different concentrations , became swollen at low solute concentrations Elodea plant , on the other hand , swelled in distilled water while the sheep 's red blood cells became cloudy . This cloudiness indicated plasmolysis or bursting of the red blood cells in low solute concentrations or hypotonic solutions . This is a proof that water molecules moved from the region of low solute concentration to the region of high solute concentration

Diffusion , Osmosis , and Cells...