Observing Osmosis in Gummy Bears

Where is the concentration of H2O molecules the highest, distilled water, tap water, salt water or
gummy bears?
Materials per Table
2 small plastic cups w/ lid
masking tape and pen
distilled water and tap water
2 gummy bears (different colors)
ruler
Procedure
1. Label the cups using the masking tape with your groups names and hour. Label one cup
tap and the other distilled. Copy the data table below into your composition notebook.
Everyone must have the data and answered questions in their comp book.
2. Measure the mass of the gummy bears and record them in your composition notebook. Be
sure you tare/zero the weigh boat before measuring the mass of your bears.
3. Measure the length, width, and height of your gummy bears in cm using the ruler and record
them in your composition notebook.
4. Fill the appropriate cup with distilled water and the other with tap water, then place your
gummy bears in the cups and cover with the lids. Be sure you record which gummy bear
goes in which cup.
Create two hypotheses using the templates below.
Gummy Bear 1 Color:______
Dimensions

Initial (day 1) After

distilled
water (day 2)

Gummy Bear 2 Color:_______

After salt
water (day 3)

Initial (day 1) After tap

water (day 2)

After salt
water (day 3)

Mass (g)
Length
(cm)
Width (cm)
Height (cm)

1. If the H2O concentration in tap water is (higher , lower) than the H2O concentration
in a Gummy Bear, then Gummy Bears placed in tap water will (increase, decrease,
remain the same) size.
2. If the H2O concentration in distilled water is (higher , lower) than the H2O
concentration in a Gummy Bear, then Gummy Bears placed in distilled water will
(increase, decrease, remain the same) size.

Background Information
Gummy Bears are made of gelatin, starch, and sugar. Gelatin is made out of collagen protein.
This protein is a polymer (huge molecule made of many repeating units) that forms large threedimensional matrices which give structural support to jellies and jams, and lots of other things
that you use every day. (A
matix is like a complex cage)
Molecules are in constant motion, and tend to move from areas of higher
concentrations to lesser concentrations. Diffusion is defined as the movement of molecules
from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. The diffusion of water
molecules through a selectively permeable membrane is known as OSMOSIS. Selectively
permeable means that some molecules can move through a membrane while others cannot.
OSMOSIS is the movement
(transport) of water through a
selectively permeable
membrane from an area of
high concentration to an area
of low concentration. When
solute concentrations are
higher, water concentrations
are lower.