BIOLOGY REPORT

Osmosis in Rhubarb cell

When the Rhubarb cell is dipped in the 2M NaCl solution the size of the vacuole must decrease. 1. A thin layer of rhubarb stem was taken and a microscope slide was prepared( as thin as possible and rich in pink colour). 2. The slide was then observed under the microscope using a magnification of 40. 3. A cell was then drawn that is before dipping the cell in the Sodium Chloride solution. 4. Then 2-3 drops of 2M NaCl solution were put over one side of cover slip( it should just touch the cover slip). Then a small piece of tissue paper was kept on the other side of the cover slip so as to irrigate the cell with the solution( do not suck too much solution). 5. After 20 to 30 seconds the cells were looked again and were drawn on the sheet again( this was ensured that the cells which were drawn before were only observed after irrigating the cells with the solution). After irrigating the cells it was observed that the size of the pink spot in the cells decreased and the colour darkened as the water moved out of the cells. This process is known as Osmosis. Everything in nature tries to maintain the balance that is nothing less nothing more. Thus the water, air and heat etc move from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration (if allowed or free to move). The movement of solvent particles from a region of their high concentration to a region of their low concentration through a semi permeable membrane is known as Osmosis. Every cell membrane is semi permeable in nature. A semi permeable membrane allows only selective movement of like solvent as it is small for the movement of big solute particles. This process after some time achieves dynamic equilibrium that is the amount of water going in and out of the cell equals. In plant cells the vacuole occupies 90% of the space and is filled with cell sap which is mainly water. Thus, having more concentration of water in comparison to the sodium

chloride solution the water moves out of the cell membrane and the vacuole size decreases. Procedure 1. Take a rhubarb stem and cut a thin layer of the stem using a blade(remember to take the stem which is of dark colour so that the movement of water could be seen properly). 2. Then prepare its slide. And observe under the microscope, keeping the magnification of 40. 3. Draw a cell keeping in mind the size of the vacuole. 4. Then pour 2-3 drops of 2M NaCl solution on one side of the slide(dont pour too much). 5. Keep a tissue paper on the other slide of the slide so as to suck the solution and irrigate the thin layer of rhubarb stem( dont suck too much of solution). 6. After 20 to 30 seconds observe the slide again and draw the cell again. SCALPEL

CUTTING RHUBARB STEM

THIN LAYER OF STEM

Result

BEFORE

AFTER

When the cell is irrigated with concentrated sodium chloride solution, the water from the cell comes out of the cell due to concentrated gradient. The cell sap is less concentrated than the sodium chloride solution. The membrane between the cell sap and the solution is semi permeable that is, it allows mainly water to move in or out. Therefore the water moves along the conc. gradient i.e. high conc.to low conc. This process is called osmosis (exosmosis). Thus the vacuole decreases in size as it contains 90% of water. It also becomes darker in color because the pigment that is responsible for the red color is not able to come out of the cell membrane. The water purifiers, filters water using reverse osmosis and pickles, meat are also preserved using osmosis and besides these, osmosis is also helpful for the patients with kidney failures as the renal dialysis works on osmosis concept. There are chances of errors but not many. The systematic error that was made was that instead of NaCl solution, NaOH was taken and the color of the pigment changed showing that the rhubarb stem acts as an indicator for bases. There was a problem in irrigating the cells without disturbing the slide and it was difficult to peel the thinnest layer of stem that too with the red pigment so as to observe the results in the experiment clearly. These were the random errors made.