Name: __________________________________ Date: _____________________________

Diffusion Through a Membrane Part 2: Investigating Membranes

Procedure: Making a Cell

1. Take a 20cm. length of dialysis tubing and soak it in warm water for 2 minutes.
2. Use two fingers to rub the dialysis tubing so that you can form tube.
3. Take the tubing out of the warm water and fold one end over. Use a piece of string to tie
the end off and completely seal it.
4. Measure out some glucose in a graduated cylinder and add it to the baggie (dialysis
tubing) you created. Add glucose until the bag is a of the way full
5. Measure out some starch in a graduated cylinder and add it to the baggie (dialysis tubing)
you created. Add starch until the tubing is full, but leave enough room to fold and tie the
tubing shut.
6. Fold over the top and tie it off with a piece of string to completely seal it.
7. Rinse off the cell you just made by holding it under tap water for a few seconds.
8. Gently place the cell in a clean beaker.
9. Add water gently until the water just covers the top of the cell
10. Use a pipette to add drops of iodine (Starch Indicator) to the water so that it is a
translucent amber color.

You are going to let the cell sit for 20 Minutes!

(While you wait do the following)
11. Based on your knowledge of diffusion, What do you think will happen to the substances
inside and outside the cell:
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Identify the chemicals that are both inside and outside of your cell below;

Initial State
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After 20 Minutes!
12. Record any changes, including color, which you observe in the cell and in the beaker.
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13. Use a pipette to transfer 10 drops of solution in the beaker to a clean test tube. Add 10
drops of blue colored benedicts solution (glucose indicator) to the test tube.
Initial Color: ________________ Final Color: ________________ Glucose: Yes or No
14. Now that weve let the cell sit for 20 minutes, identify the final state of your set up by
labeling the chemicals that are both inside and outside your cell below; Be sure to
account for the results from your test in #13 also.

Final State
15. Based on the test you performed in step 13, did any of the substances originally inside the
cell move outside the cell? Identify the chemical below or circle No chemicals left the
cell
Name of chemical: ________________ Or No chemicals left the cell.
How do you know? Explain:
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Lab Report:
1. Put a proper heading at the top of a new page in your lab notebook. 10pts
2. On a new line, write the title of the lab, centered and underlined. 5pts
3. On a new line in your lab notebook write the word prediction. 5pts
a. Describe the initial state of the cell and what you thought would happen to both
the chemicals inside the cell and those outside the cell. (Refer to #10) 10pts
4. On a new line in your lab notebook write the word data. 5pts
a. Draw and label the beaker and cell in its initial state. (Refer to #10) 10pts
b. Draw and label the beaker and cell in its final state. (Refer to #12) 10pts
c. In your own words describe the changes that happened over the 20 minutes. 10pts
5. On a new line in your lab notebook write the word Conclusion Questions. 5pts
6. Complete the following;
a. What is the best explanation for the color change that occurred inside the cell?
5pts
b. Did any starch diffuse out of the cell? Yes or No
Explain how you can tell. 10pts
c. Did any glucose diffuse out of the cell? Yes or No
Explain how you can tell. 10pts
d. Which substance(s) diffused through the membrane? 5pts
e. Which substance(s) did not diffuse through the membrane? 5pts
f. Explain why some substances were able to pass through the membrane while
others were not able to. 5pts

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