Discussion
In my Hypothesis I stated that If diffusion and osmosis across a selectively permeable member are related to the substance the membrane is submersed in, then an egg submersed in molasses will shrink as a result of the diffusion of water exiting the egg. My prediction was 100% correct because the molasses had a lower concentration of water particles, all the water particles from within the egg exited the egg through the semi-permeable membrane in an effort to create equilibrium. I was aware this would happen because I was aware of the mechanics of diffusion and osmosis. My experiment proved this correct and therefore I would label it a successful experiment
For our experiment we placed the two eggs into two different substances, so that the egg would function as a selectively permeable membrane and this would give us a clear visual of the mechanics of osmosis and diffusion . We then noted the changes in both of the eggs so as to see the different effect the two substances would have upon the eggs. We placed one of our eggs into molasses while the other one was placed into water that was dyed blue. The amount of time we placed the eggs in the substances for was the controlled variable as well as the placement of the eggs. Our independent variable was the molasses and the water we dyed blue. The eggs we used acted as the dependant variable. The reasons that these are our variables is because ; a controlled variable is the variable in the experiment that is not changed throughout the experiment, an independent variable is the variable that could change the outcome of the experiment and the dependant variable is the variable in the experiment that is affected.
There was a huge difference between what happened to the egg when it was in the water and when it was in the molasses. When the egg was placed into the water it began to swell because there was a higher concentration of water outside the egg then inside. Therefore the water outside the egg tried to pass through the selectively permeable membrane to enter into the egg which had a lower concentration, in an effort to create equilibrium. The opposite happened during the test when we placed the egg in the molasses because there was a higher concentration of water inside the egg then outside because of how much less concentration of water there was in the molasses compared to the inside of the egg. This shows in Graph 1 and 2 as it shows how much heavier the egg in water got because it got filled with water, thus adding weight to it. However because of the way that the diffusion worked when the egg was in molasses the egg lost weight, this is shown in graph 1. In Graph 2 it shows that because there was a higher concentration of water outside the egg in water then inside it, the water rushed inside the egg and the water level dropped in an effort to create equilibrium. However, with the egg in the molasses the water level went up because there was a lower concentration of water outside the cell then inside it.
My Experiment was successful because I made sure we controlled all variables and we conducted the test as we were supposed to and we get valid results from the experiment. If I were to change something about our experiment, I would most likely have used an even thicker substance then molasses so as to see a more drastic result, because there would be an even lower concentration of water outside the egg. This would mean that it would’ve shrunk even smaller because all of the water particles inside the egg would try to get to the substance on the outside in an effort to create equilibrium. I do not believe there were any errors in our test as we did everything according to plan and did not do anything different then we had been instructed do to. If I was to repeat the test as I said earlier, I would use a substance with a lower concentration of water so as to get a more drastic result.