Limitations on Cell Size: Surface Area to Volume

Materials:
LabQuest
LabQuest App
Vernier Conductivity Probe
250 mL beaker
Glass stirring rod
Utility clamp
Agar cubes
Distilled water
Metric ruler
Logger Pro
Ring stand
Procedure:
1. Set up the utility clamp, Conductivity Probe, and ring stand.
2. Set the selector switch on the side of the Conductivity Probe to the 0-20000 S/cm
range. Connect the Conductivity Prove to LabQuest and choose New from the File
menu
3. On the Meter screen, Tab Rate. Change the data- collection rate to 0.5 samples/second
and the data-collection length to 80 seconds.
4. Pour 200 mL beaker. Position the Conductivity Probe in the water so the tip is about 3
cm from the bottom of the beaker.
5. Place the solid agar cube sample in the beaker and start data collection. Stir the water
moderately with the stirring rod. Continue stirring the water during the entire data
collection period. Try to avoid hitting the agar pieces with the stirring rod.
6. Data collections will stop after 80 seconds. Analyze the fraph to determine the rate of
ion exchange. To do this :
a. Examine the graph and identify the most linear region.
b. Tap and drag your stylus across the most linear region to select these data points.
c. Choose Curve Fit from the Analyze menu. Select Linear as the Fit Equation.
d. Record the slope, m, as the rate of ion exchange in (S/s). Select OK.
7. Empty the water from the beaker into the container provided. Rinse the beaker and
Conductivity Probe thoroughly. Dry the beaker and blot the outside of the probe shaft
dry using a paper towel. It is not necessary to dry the inside of the hole near
the probe end.
8. Repeat steps 4-7 for the sample of agar cut into 2 pieces.
9. Repeat steps 4-7 for the sample of agar cut into 4 pieces.
10. Repeat steps 4-7 for the sample of agar cut into 8 pieces.
Hypothesis:
If we cut an agar cube into small pieces, the volume is the same, but there
will be more surface area. When their surface area is increased, they will
perform reactions faster.
Purpose:
We use agar cubes as cell models to observe how cells of equal volume
perform reactions faster when their surface area is increased.
Discussion:
The result from our experiment does not follow our prediction in the
hypothesis in the last one that the surface area is 48

. Our prediction is the

rate will increase if there are more pieces and surface area. This is because
volume reaction faster when the surface area is increased. The reason that the
result we have got does not follow the hypothesis it maybe because we stir the
distilled water not properly and our work in the lab may not good enough. We
could improve our experiment by use more piece and more surface area of agar
and then observe that the rate increase or decrease accurate or not.
Results:
Pieces Surface
Area(cm)
Volume(cm) Surface-to-
volume ratio
Rate
1 24 8 3:01 10.77
2 32 8 4:01 14.276
4 40 8 5:01 16.747
8 48 8 6:01 15.635

Questions:
1. The relationship between both of them is increasing.
2. A large surface allows more substances through the cell, and makes the diffusion
process more effective and efficient
3. A large cell because it has more surface area so it's easy to let materials go through
the cells and exchanging