Ch 7.

3 Cell Transport Osmosis Gizmo Name __________________________________

https://www.explorelearning.com/

Gizmo Warm-up
A cell membrane is a thin “barrier” that surrounds a cell. It is a
semipermeable membrane, which means that some particles
pass through the membrane easily while others cannot.

The Osmosis Gizmo™ portrays a cell (red square) in a solution

of purple solute particles dissolved in green solvent (water)
particles. Press Play ( ) and observe.

1. Which particles CAN pass through the cell membrane?

2. The cell membrane is PERMEABLE to which particles?

3. Which particles CANNOT pass through the cell membrane?

4. The cell membrane is NOT PERMEABLE to which particles?

5. Click Reset ( ), and then click Play again. What do you notice about the size of the cell?

Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:

Observing  Click Reset. Set the Initial cell volume to 40%.

osmosis  You will need a calculator for this activity.

Question: How do solute concentrations affect the volume of a cell?

6. OBSERVE: Use the Solute outside slider to change the concentration of solute particles
outside the cell. Be sure to INCREASE and DECREASE concentration. Click Play. In each
case, focus on whether the cell gets bigger or smaller.
A. In what situation does the cell get larger…MORE or LESS solute outside cell?

B. In what situation does the cell get smaller…MORE or LESS solute outside cell
7. CALCULATE: The concentration of a solute is the amount of solute particles in a given
amount of solvent. To calculate percentage concentration, divide the number of solute
particles by the total number of particles (solute + solvent), then multiply by 100:

% concentration = (solute ÷ total particles) × 100

Select the DESCRIPTION tab. Click Reset. Set the Solute outside to 10 and check the
Initial cell volume is 40%. DO NOT CLICK PLAY. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:

A. How many solute particles are found inside the cell? _________ Outside? _________

B. How many solvent particles are found inside the cell? ________ Outside? _________

C. What is the % concentration of solute inside the cell? __________________

D. What is the % concentration of solute outside the cell? _________________

E. Has the cell reached HOMEOSTASIS  is it balanced and stable? YES or NO

F. CIRCLE 3 ANSWERS  Solute concentration is higher (INSIDE or OUTSIDE) cell

forcing water to move (INSIDE or OUTSIDE) cell causing it to (EXPAND or SHRINK).

8. OBSERVE: Now Click PLAY, and observe the numbers shown on the DESCRIPTION pane.
How does each number change over time? Write increases, decreases, or stays same.
A) Solute particles inside? ___________ D) Solute particles outside? ___________

B) Solvent particles inside? ___________ E) Solvent particles outside? ___________

C) Solute concentration inside? _________ F) Solute concentration outside? _______

9. OBSERVE: Wait until the numbers are not changing very much. What do you notice about
the solute concentrations inside and outside of the cell now?

This situation is called dynamic equilibrium.

10.EXPERIMENT: Click Reset. Check that the Solute outside is 10 and the Initial cell
volume is 40%. To calculate the solvent concentration, divide the number of solvent
particles by the total number of particles, and then multiply by 100.

A. What is the solvent concentration inside the cell?

B. What is the solvent concentration outside the cell?

C. Higher solvent concentration is (INSIDE or OUTSIDE) the cell.

D. Click PLAY. Most of the solvent particles move (INSIDE or OUTSIDE) the cell and
it (EXPANDS or SHRINKS).

E. Is the cell HYPOTONIC or HYPERTONIC?

11.EXPERIMENT: Click Reset, and set the Solute outside to 1 and cell volume to 40%.
A. What is the solvent concentration inside the cell?

B. What is the solvent concentration outside the cell?

C. Higher solvent concentration is (INSIDE or OUTSIDE) the cell.

D. Do you think the cell will get larger or smaller?

E. Click PLAY to confirm your predictions. Were you correct?

F. Is the cell HYPOTONIC or HYPERTONIC?

12.SUMMARIZE: You have observed examples of osmosis—the diffusion of water across a
semipermeable membrane. Fill in the paragraph with the following terms or phrases:
(EXPAND, SHRINK, LOW, HIGH, OUT OF, INTO)
During osmosis, water moves from an area of ___________________ solvent

concentration to an area of ___________________ solvent concentration. When there is

a higher concentration of SOLUTE particles inside the cell, water particles will move

___________________ the cell and the cell will ___________________. When there is

a higher concentration of SOLUTE particles outside the cell, water particles will move

___________________ the cell and the cell will ___________________.

Activity B: Get the Gizmo ready:

 Click Reset.
Effect of cell  Set the Solute outside to 5.
volume  Set the Initial cell volume to 40%.

Question: How does changing the cell volume affect solute concentrations?

13.EXPERIMENT: Select the BAR CHART tab, and turn on Show numerical values.

A. Based on solute concentrations, do you expect the cell to swell or shrink?

B. Click Play, and observe. Was your prediction correct?

14.OBSERVE: Click Reset. Keep the solute set at 5. Move the Initial cell volume slider back
and forth  BIGGER and SMALLER. How does the initial cell volume affect the solute
concentrations inside and outside the cell?

A. Bigger cells have _______________ solute concentration inside compared to outside.

B. Smaller cells have ______________ solute concentration inside compared to outside.

15.EXPERIMENT: With the Solute outside set to 5, predict whether the cell will swell,
shrink, or stay the same with each Initial cell volume settings. Check  Click PLAY.

Predictions: 20% ____________ 50% ____________ 60% ____________

Actual results: 20% ____________ 50% ____________ 60% ____________