Question:
Can an egg membrane be used as a model to show the movement of water when placed in different solutions?
Hypothesis:
I think that an egg membrane can act as a model to show the movement of water across a membrane.
Materials:
- 600 ml beakers (2)
- Marker
- Scale
- Vinegar
- Tablespoon
- Fresh eggs (2)
- Paper Plates
- Distilled water
- Corn Syrup
Procedure:
1.Obtain two 200 ml beakers and number them “Egg 1” and “Egg 2”.
2.Obtain two eggs. Measure the mass of one of the eggs and place it into the beaker labeled “Egg 1”. Record your results.
3.Repeat the same steps with the next egg and place it into the beaker labeled “Egg 2”. Record your results.
4.Pour 200ml of vinegar into each beaker.
5.Place the two beakers in a safe place overnight.
6.Observe the eggs the next day, and record observations.
7.Slowly pour the vinegar out of each beaker. Be careful not to break the egg membrane.
8.Carefully remove the egg using the tablespoon. Rinse with water and place each egg on a labeled paper plate (Egg 1 and Egg 2).
9.Measure the mass of each egg.
10. Record this information.
1.Obtain two 200 ml beakers and number them “Egg 1” and “Egg 2”.
2.Obtain two eggs. Measure the mass of one of the eggs and place it into the beaker labeled “Egg 1”. Record your results.
3.Repeat the same steps with the next egg and place it into the beaker labeled “Egg 2”. Record your results.
4.Pour 200ml of vinegar into each beaker.
5.Place the two beakers in a safe place overnight.
6.Observe the eggs the next day, and record observations.
7.Slowly pour the vinegar out of each beaker. Be careful not to break the egg membrane.
8.Carefully remove the egg using the tablespoon. Rinse with water and place each egg on a labeled paper plate (Egg 1 and Egg 2).
9.Measure the mass of each egg.
10. Record this information.
Observations/Data
Table 1: Egg Mass
Raw Egg
Vinegar (g)-after 24 hours
Water or Syrup (g) after 24 hours
Table 1: Egg Mass
Raw Egg
Vinegar (g)-after 24 hours
Water or Syrup (g) after 24 hours
Egg #1 gained 17.1 grams when placed in the vinegar for 24 hours.
Egg #2 gained 13.1 grams when placed in the vinegar for 24 hours.
Both eggs had water movement to the inside of the egg causing it to swell. The lower concentration of water was found inside the egg.
Table 2: Egg Observations
On day one both of the eggs had similar structure and size. Their masses were slight different as noted in Table 1.
On day two both of the eggs were very soft to the touch, they almost had a rubbery feel. They were very fragile and had to be handled with care.
On day three I saw the most significant change in the eggs. Egg #1 increased in size and mass even more than day two. Egg #2 was very fragile as well but it looked as though it collapsed on one side. The weight decreased dramatically from day two.
On day two both of the eggs were very soft to the touch, they almost had a rubbery feel. They were very fragile and had to be handled with care.
On day three I saw the most significant change in the eggs. Egg #1 increased in size and mass even more than day two. Egg #2 was very fragile as well but it looked as though it collapsed on one side. The weight decreased dramatically from day two.
Results
Egg #1 experienced osmosis two times. The first experience was with the vinegar. The water went from a greater concentration (outside the egg) to a lower concentration (inside the egg). The second experience was with the distilled water.During both experiences the movement of water was detected by an increase in mass of the egg.
Egg#2 experienced two types of osmosis. The first experience was with the vinegar. The water moved from a higher concentration (outside the egg) to a lower concentration (inside the egg). The second experience was when the egg went into the corn syrup. The egg’s mass decreased because it lost water. The water moved from an area of high concentration (inside the egg) to an area of lower concentration (outside the egg).
Egg #1 experienced osmosis two times. The first experience was with the vinegar. The water went from a greater concentration (outside the egg) to a lower concentration (inside the egg). The second experience was with the distilled water.During both experiences the movement of water was detected by an increase in mass of the egg.
Egg#2 experienced two types of osmosis. The first experience was with the vinegar. The water moved from a higher concentration (outside the egg) to a lower concentration (inside the egg). The second experience was when the egg went into the corn syrup. The egg’s mass decreased because it lost water. The water moved from an area of high concentration (inside the egg) to an area of lower concentration (outside the egg).
Conclusion:
During this experiment I was able to investigate the concept of osmosis. Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a membrane from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. Osmosis is a form of diffusion that only deals with water. It does not require any energy from the cell.
The egg was a good example of a cell because the membrane of the egg was like the cell membrane in an animal cell. The egg white was like the cytoplasm in the cell where the organelles reside. The movement of water was evident by the increase or decrease in the mass of the egg.
When the egg swelled I knew that the water moved inside the egg. This happened when both eggs were placed in vinegar and when Egg 1 was placed in the distilled water. When the egg shrunk I knew that the water left the egg. This happened when the egg was placed in the corn syrup.
In conclusion, my hypothesis is correct the egg is a good model to demonstrate the movement of water when placed in different solutions.
During this experiment I was able to investigate the concept of osmosis. Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a membrane from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. Osmosis is a form of diffusion that only deals with water. It does not require any energy from the cell.
The egg was a good example of a cell because the membrane of the egg was like the cell membrane in an animal cell. The egg white was like the cytoplasm in the cell where the organelles reside. The movement of water was evident by the increase or decrease in the mass of the egg.
When the egg swelled I knew that the water moved inside the egg. This happened when both eggs were placed in vinegar and when Egg 1 was placed in the distilled water. When the egg shrunk I knew that the water left the egg. This happened when the egg was placed in the corn syrup.
In conclusion, my hypothesis is correct the egg is a good model to demonstrate the movement of water when placed in different solutions.