Activity 3.

2
Title
Objective
Problem
statement
Hypothesis

Variables

Materials
and
apparatus
Procedure:

Results

Studying osmosis using an osmometer

To study osmosis using an osmometer
What are the substances that can diffuse through a semi-permeable membrane?
Water molecules can diffuse through semi-permeable membrane.
Manipulated variable:
Time taken
Responding variable:
Level of sucrose solution
Constant variable:
Temperature
Sucrose solution, distilled water, retort stand, capillary tube, visking tubing,
cotton thread, ruler, marker pen, scissor, beaker, syringe, stopwatch
*draw Figure 3.2, page 24
*you can get the procedure from Biology Practical textbook, reference book or
internet.
Time taken 10
(minutes)
Level of
sucrose
solution (cm)

20

30

40

*draw a graph of level of sucrose solution against time taken

Discussion 1. Describe the graph that you have plotted.
The graph is directly proportional.
2. What causes the change in the levels of the sucrose solution?
Water molecules from outside diffuse into the visking tubing.
3. What inferences can you make regarding the size of the sucrose and water
molecules, and the size of the pores on the visking tubing?
Size of water molecules are smaller than size of the pores on the visking
tubing. While size of the sucrose molecules are bigger than size of the pores
on the visking tubing.
4. Predict the outcome of the results if the experiment is repeated by filling the
visking tubing with distilled water and the beaker with 30% sucrose
solution.
Level of distilled water and in the capillary tube will decrease with time. At
the end of experiment, visking tubing becomes soft and volume of water

decreases.
Conclusio
n

Water molecules can diffuse through semi-permeable membrane. Hypothesis is

accepted.