Osmosis in red blood cell

Algenio. Bresnan. Castro. Chang. Tan

Group 4

2/1/2014

I. Abstract This study aims to find the effect of osmosis in the cell. The researchers aim to answer the following questions: 1. What are the different effects of different kinds of solution to the cell? 2. How does osmosis works? The researchers used red blood cells and NaCl solutions with varying levels of concentration. The set-ups were observed for an hour and produces different results. It is later found out that the manipulation of concentration levels of the solution affects osmosis in red blood cells.

II. Introduction
As the basic unit of life, a cell has its own way to self-perpetuate. This may range from cell division, cellular respiration, up to the transport of different materials needed for these processes. One example of such process is osmosis which occurs inside of the cell. Osmosis is the net movement of a solvent, usually water, through a semi-permeable membrane. In this experiment, red blood cells were used to observe this process of osmosis. This is made possible by manipulating the concentration levels of the solution containing these RBCs.

III. Objectives
1. To distinguish the effects of a hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic solution to the cell. 2. To determine how osmosis works.

2/1/2014

IV. Methodology

2/1/2014

1. Extract blood from a volunteer. Three drops should be placed in each glass slides labelled A, B, and C.

2/1/2014

2. Add a drop of 0.07M, 0.15M, and 0.30M NaCl solution respectively to each glass slides.

2/1/2014

3. The red blood cells will be observed in an hour having fiveminute intervals for measuring the size.

V. Results and Discussion

2/1/2014

SAMPLE A
0.07 M NaCl Solution

B&C

2/1/2014

SAMPLE B
0.15 M NaCl Solution

B 0:30

B. 1:00

2/1/2014

SAMPLE C
0.30 M NaCl Solution

C 0:30

C 1:00

Slide A contains a 0.07M NaCl solution. After a 1-hour mark, the cells notably grew larger.

In slide B, the 0.15M solution does not cause any changes to the size of the cells. However in slide C, the 0.30M solution causes the cells to shrink.

VI. Conclusion

Since the 0.15 NaCl solution does not cause any change to the size of the cells,it could be said that osmosis doesn't takes place. It can be also concluded that the concentration inside the red blood cell is somehow near the 0.15M margin. This makes the 0.15M NaCl solution an isotonic one. With these facts, the 0.07M and 0.30M NaCl solutions can be called hypotonic and hypertonic solutions respectively. The difference in concentration levels of the cell and the solution triggers the osmosis process as an attempt of the cell to achieve equilibrium.

2/1/2014

The molar concentration of the solution is inversely proportional to the size of the red blood cells. In other words, as you increase the concentration of the solution, the cells size will decrease. Hypertonic solution (high c.) cell shrinks Isotonic solution no changes in the cell Hypotonic solution (low c.) cell enlarges and may burst

2/1/2014

-END-