Discover and Gain Knowledge of the Effects of Osmosis on Cells

Objective:

The purpose of this experiment was to discover and gain knowledge of the effects of osmosis on cells. In addition, this lab was also done to see how plasmolysis would affect the cells as well. The objectives were to note any observations of the appearance in the Elodea leaf before and after the experiment was done.

Hypothesis:

The cells in the Elodea leaf would be affected by plasmolysis and would shrink away from the cell wall.

Materials:

Ð'ЃÐ'? Microscope

Ð'ЃÐ'? Microscope slide

Ð'ЃÐ'? Paper towel

Ð'ЃÐ'? Coverslip

Ð'ЃÐ'? Forceps

Ð'ЃÐ'? Elodea (water plant)

Ð'ЃÐ'? Droppers (2)

Ð'ЃÐ'? Tap water

Ð'ЃÐ'? 6% salt solution

Procedures:

First, set up a wet mount of an Elodea leaf. With a dropper, add one or two drops of tap water onto the microscope slide. Then, put the Elodea leaf into the water and place a coverslip over the leaf. Next, watch the leaf under both low and high powers and take note of the area of chloroplasts in relation to the cell wall. Create a diagram of a normal cell under the Data and Observations section. Afterwards, with a clean dropper, add a single drop of 6% salt solution on the edge of the coverslip. Put a paper towel along the opposite edge of the coverslip.

Once again, watch the leaf under both low and high powers and take note of the area of chloroplasts in relation to the cell wall. If the cell membrane and the cell contents have shrunk away from the cell wall, the plasmolysis is complete. Create a diagram of a plasmolyzed cell under the Data and Obersvations section and label the cell wall, cell membrane, and chloroplasts. Lastly, add a drop of tap water to the wet mount on the edge of the coverslip and place a piece of paper towel along the opposite edge of the coverslip.

Results:

Data And Observations

Normal Cell Plasmolyzed Cell

Analysis

1. Describe the location of chloroplasts in a normal Elodea cell (in tap water).

The location of chloroplasts in a normal Elodea cell is all throughout the cell, moving