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Onion Cell Plasmolysis Lab

Aspect 1

We did this lab in order to show the effects of plasmolysis on plant cells to
help enhance the understanding of diffusion and water potential. Knowing that
plasmolysis involves the shrinking of the cytoplasm in a cell wall after diffusion of
water in hypertonic solutions, I predict that both the area and the perimeter of the
cell will decrease in size.

The independent variable is the perimeter of the cell. The dependent


variable is the area of the cell. The control is the amount of salt in the water.

Aspect 2 and 3

The first step was to cut out a piece of onion and remove a single layer of
the purple tissue. The layer was then placed on a slide and a drop of water was
added. Then we used a microscope to find the onion cells under 40X and then
100X. Next, we placed a paper towel along one edge of the slide and added
drops of 15% NaCl (salt) solution and replaced the fresh water. After plasmolysis
took place, we observed the cell, took a picture and analyzed the results using
Image J.

For complete instructions see Mrs. Keel’s teacherweb page at:


http://teacherweb.com/TX/westwoodhighschool/Keel/photo2.stm

Aspect 4

Area
Cell Initial Area Final Area
(mm2) (mm2)
1 0.0742 0.0442
2 0.1050 0.0697 Perimeter
3 0.1297 0.0830 Cell Initial Final
Perimeter Perimeter
(mm) (mm)
1 1.2474 0.9541
2 1.4850 1.1354
3 1.7713 1.4671
Aspect 5

Area Percent Change


0.0442 – 0.0742
1 X 100 = -40.43%
0.0742
0.0697 – 0.1050
2 X 100 = -33.62%
0.1050
0.0830 – 0.1297
3 X 100 = -36.01%
0.1297

Perimeter Percent Change


0.9541– 1.2474
1 X 100 = -23.51%
1.2474
1.1354 – 1.4850
2 X 100 = -23.54%
1.4850
1.4671 – 1.7713
3 X 100 = -17.17%
1.7713

Aspect 6

0
Aspect 7

My original hypothesis was correct in that both the final perimeter and
area were less than the starting values. This occurred because water moved out
of the cell, into the hypertonic, meaning a high solute concentration, salt solution,
which led to the shrinking of the cytoplasm, a process called plasmolysis. If the
solution added had been hypotonic, meaning it had a low solute concentration,
then plasmolysis would not have occurred, and the perimeter and area would not
have increased.
The percent change in area was much more drastic than that of the
perimeter. This occurred because the area is dependent upon the perimeter and
is affected more by changes in the cell wall shape.

Aspect 8

In our experiment, we made a few mistakes. When we took our picture of


the onion cells after plasmolysis occurred, we zoomed in to get a better shot.
This skewed our results in Image J because the picture was enlarged creating a
bigger perimeter and area.
Another error that occurred was the tracing of the cell wall in Image J. It
was very difficult to accurately outline each cell, making the results inaccurate.

Aspect 9

Some improvements that could have been made to our experiment would
have been a more accurately sized picture to analyze and being more careful in
outlining the cell wall in Image J. By fixing these two things, our results would
have been much clearer and provided a better outcome.

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