Diffusion Lab

The purpose of the Diffusion Lab was to see what happens to eggs through the process of diffusion. We did this by putting 2 eggs in different cups, one containing corn syrup and one containing deionized water. We first measured both eggs in their circumference (the short way) and their weight. We then put the eggs in their cups and left them their over the long weekend. We then carefully took out the eggs from their containers and measured their sizes to see whether the circumference and weight had changed. We found that the eggs placed in the corn syrup had deflated and lost weight. On average, they lost about 42.17% of their mass and had a 19.68% decrease in circumference. This happened through the process of diffusion. The sugar in this case was the solute and the water was the solvent. There was more solute (sugar) on the outside of the cell so it tried to get in but it can because its to big so instead the water from inside the egg comes out where there is less water. Cells change in response to their environment because of diffusion. Putting them in the water would cause the egg to inflate because their is more solvent (water) outside the egg and more solute inside the egg. When you put it in the sugar water, it will deflate and water will be taken out of it.
This lab helped demonstrate the process of diffusion. It showed the effects of diffusion on eggs and these can be applied to actual cells. It shows what happens when you put a cell in certain conditions such as having too much or too little solute. Fresh vegetables are sprayed with water so that they don inflate and remain rigid. Salting effects the plants by causing them to wilt.  This is because there will be water coming out of the plant cells because of so much solute outside. This will stop the turgor pressure and wilt the plant. We can make a new experiment seeing the same thing except having salt and not sugar. We can see the different effects of this.