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Osmosis In Sheep Blood Cells

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In this lab experiment, half our group observed and measured osmosis using dialysis tubes that were represented as the semipermeable membrane. It is permeable to water and other small molecules but is impermeable to larger molecules such as the sucrose solution used in each of the four beakers and tubing. The other half of our group observed the tonicity of sheep blood to determine whether the blood was isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic. The 85 g/dL of NaCl solution was the ideal isotonic number in relation to the sheep blood cells as well as a reference to the other observations of the solutions. The dialysis bag experiment resulted with beaker one having relatively similar numbers, showing as an isotonic medium. Beaker two’s solution gradually increased within an hour which caused the product to …show more content…

As the lab introduction explains, osmosis is relatively permeable to water and will follow solutes. By instinct, the water will move from a more diluted solution to more of a concentrated solution. The products of the experiments concluded the physiological significance of osmosis by how cell membranes in the body are semipermeable meaning that only certain molecules can pass through it. When intracellular fluid and extracellular fluid are at equilibrium by non-penetrating and concentrated solutes, no net movement of water goes in and out of the cell. Furthermore, if the ECF changes in osmolality, then depending on the difference between the ECF and ICF will determine whether water moves in or out of the cell. This is important in the cell membrane as small differences in osmolarity correspond to large, rapid change in osmotic pressure, causing cells to gain or lose water. In sum, our body makes critical decisions in what molecules are allowed to penetrate the cell membrane and make sure that our red blood cells don’t cause any problems within the

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