Lab 1: Diffusion and Osmosis

The selective permeability of membranes is of fundamental importance to cellular physiology. Students will perform experimental procedures involving diffusion, dialysis, water potential and osmotic potential. For 10 lab groups.

Duration: 60 to 90 minutes or two lab periods.

Kit contents:
• Sample A: orange dye
• Sample B: violet dye
• M Sucrose/1 M NaCl solution
• Powdered sucrose
• Dialysis tubing
• Instructions

Required, but not included: beakers, 1, 5 and 10 ml pipets, thermometers, scales, cork borers or small kitchen knives, graph paper, distilled or deionized H₂O, potatoes.