Discussion
In my hypothesis, I stated that if one egg is placed in a hypotonic solution and one egg is placed in a hypertonic solution, then the egg in the hypotonic solution will gain mass while the egg in the hypertonic solution will lose mass. I believed that this would happen as osmosis occurs when water diffuses across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. My hypothesis was not accurate as both eggs gained mass and absorbed water.
The independent variable was the type of solution; the dependent variables were the mass and the volume of water. To achieve a semi-permeable membrane, the eggs were placed in vinegar, which contains acetic acid that breaks down the calcium carbonate in the shell. Both eggs were placed in the same beaker for the same amount of time, and therefore had their membranes equally weakened. They were stored in the same area and the solutions were both room temperature. The eggs were submersed in the solutions for the same amount of time and both gained mass. Although the egg in the hypotonic solution was expected to gain mass, the egg in the hypertonic solution was not. This experiment was likely invalid as the saline solution intended to be used for the hypertonic solution probably did not have a lower concentration of water than the yolk of the egg, which obviously had the lower concentration as it gained mass. The volume of water may not have changed equally like the results state as only approximate measurements were taken.
As stated in Graph 1, both eggs gained mass. The egg in the solution labeled hypotonic gained more mass than the egg in the incorrectly labeled “hypertonic” saline solution. This was most likely because the saline solution, although it had a higher concentration of water than the egg yolk, had a lower concentration of water than the hypotonic solution. This was because osmosis occurred and the water diffused across the semi-permeable membrane from an area of higher concentration to and area of lower concentration. The egg in the solution labeled hypotonic gained more mass than the egg in the incorrectly labeled “hypertonic” saline solution. This was most likely because the saline solution, although it had a higher concentration of water than the egg yolk, had a lower concentration of water than the hypotonic solution. Graph 2 shows that water from the beakers was absorbed also due to osmosis. Because measurements were only approximate, this information may be incorrect.
This experiment was invalid as an incorrect solution was used and many variables were left uncontrolled. If this experiment was done again, it would be more accurate if a proper hypertonic solution was used in place of the weak saline solution that was used. A major source of error was the fact that a hypotonic solution was used in place of a hypertonic solution rendering the investigation invalid. If this project was repeated, another independent variable that could be tested could be solution temperature as the effects of head on osmosis could be investigated.
The independent variable was the type of solution; the dependent variables were the mass and the volume of water. To achieve a semi-permeable membrane, the eggs were placed in vinegar, which contains acetic acid that breaks down the calcium carbonate in the shell. Both eggs were placed in the same beaker for the same amount of time, and therefore had their membranes equally weakened. They were stored in the same area and the solutions were both room temperature. The eggs were submersed in the solutions for the same amount of time and both gained mass. Although the egg in the hypotonic solution was expected to gain mass, the egg in the hypertonic solution was not. This experiment was likely invalid as the saline solution intended to be used for the hypertonic solution probably did not have a lower concentration of water than the yolk of the egg, which obviously had the lower concentration as it gained mass. The volume of water may not have changed equally like the results state as only approximate measurements were taken.
As stated in Graph 1, both eggs gained mass. The egg in the solution labeled hypotonic gained more mass than the egg in the incorrectly labeled “hypertonic” saline solution. This was most likely because the saline solution, although it had a higher concentration of water than the egg yolk, had a lower concentration of water than the hypotonic solution. This was because osmosis occurred and the water diffused across the semi-permeable membrane from an area of higher concentration to and area of lower concentration. The egg in the solution labeled hypotonic gained more mass than the egg in the incorrectly labeled “hypertonic” saline solution. This was most likely because the saline solution, although it had a higher concentration of water than the egg yolk, had a lower concentration of water than the hypotonic solution. Graph 2 shows that water from the beakers was absorbed also due to osmosis. Because measurements were only approximate, this information may be incorrect.
This experiment was invalid as an incorrect solution was used and many variables were left uncontrolled. If this experiment was done again, it would be more accurate if a proper hypertonic solution was used in place of the weak saline solution that was used. A major source of error was the fact that a hypotonic solution was used in place of a hypertonic solution rendering the investigation invalid. If this project was repeated, another independent variable that could be tested could be solution temperature as the effects of head on osmosis could be investigated.