Name_________________________________________________ Date____________Period______________
Gummy Bear Lab
Purpose: To investigate the movement of water into and out of a Gummy Bear (a gelatin substance)
Problem: Where is the concentration of water molecules highest: gummy bears, distilled water, or
salt water?
Background Information: Gummy bears are made of gelatin, starch, and sugar. Gelatin is a
polymer (huge molecule made of many repeating molecules) that forms large 3-D matrices which
give structural support to jellies, jams, and lots of other things that you use every day. (A matrix is
like a complex cage).
Hypothesis:
1. If the water concentration in distilled water is (higher, lower) than the water concentration in a
gummy bear, then the gummy bear placed in distilled water will get (larger, smaller) because
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
2. If the water concentration in salt water is (higher, lower) than the water concentration in a
gummy bear, then the gummy bear placed in salt water will get (larger, smaller) because
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Materials:
 Gummy bear
 Metric Ruler
 Electronic balance
 Beaker
 Water
 Salt water
Procedure:
1. Get two gummy bears.
2. Measure each gummy bear’s height (from top to bottom) and width (side to side) and
thickness (front to back). Record the dimensions in the data table. Measure in millimeters!
3. Use the electronic balance to find the mass of each bear. Record the mass in the data table.
4. Place one bear in each beaker. Label your beaker with your and Period # and group initials.
5. Label one beaker with “Salt water” and the other with “Distilled Water”.
6. Add 50 mL of salt water to the beaker labeled salt water. Put the gummy bear in.
7. Add 50 mL of distilled water to the beaker labeled distilled water. Put the gummy bear in.
8. Leave it overnight.
Name_________________________________________________ Date____________Period______________
9. On Day 2, repeat the same measurements (height, width, thickness, and mass) and record in
the data table.
Data:
Chart
Gummy
Bear
Physical Properties
Mass
(grams)
Change
in Mass
(+ OR -)
Height
(mm)
Width
(mm)
Thickness
(mm)
DISTILLED WATER
Before going into
water:
After going into water:
SALT WATER
Before going into salt
water:
After going into salt
water:
Calculations:
DISTILLED WATER
1. % CHANGE IN MASS
(After soaking mass – Before soaking mass / Before soaking mass) x 100
(________________ - ________________ / ________________) x 100 = _________ %
Name_________________________________________________ Date____________Period______________
2. % CHANGE IN HEIGHT
(After soaking height – Before soaking height / Before soaking height) x 100
(________________ - ________________ / ________________) x 100 = _________ %
3. % CHANGE IN WIDTH
(After soaking width – Before soaking width / Before soaking width) x 100
(________________ - ________________ / ________________) x 100 = _________ %
4. % CHANGE IN THICKNESS
(After soaking thickness – Before socking thickness / Before soaking thickness) x 100
(________________ - ________________ / ________________) x 100 = _________ %
SALT WATER
1. % CHANGE IN MASS
(After soaking mass – Before soaking mass / Before soaking mass) x 100
(________________ - ________________ / ________________) x 100 = _________ %
2. % CHANGE IN HEIGHT
(After soaking height – Before soaking height / Before soaking height) x 100
(________________ - ________________ / ________________) x 100 = _________ %
3. % CHANGE IN WIDTH
(After soaking width – Before soaking width / Before soaking width) x 100
(________________ - ________________ / ________________) x 100 = _________ %
4. % CHANGE IN THICKNESS
(After soaking thickness – Before socking thickness / Before soaking thickness) x 100
(________________ - ________________ / ________________) x 100 = _________ %
Name_________________________________________________ Date____________Period______________
Graph: Create a double bar graph to represent the percent change for each measurement for both
salt water and distilled water. Be sure to label your x and y axis and create a key.
Title: _____________________________________________________________________
Conclusion Questions:
1. a) What happened to the bear when placed in distilled water? How do you know? Use
evidence from the lab to support your answer.
b) Why did this happen? Explain using concepts of osmosis.
Name_________________________________________________ Date____________Period______________
2. a) What happened to the bear when placed in salt water? How do you know? Use evidence
from the lab to support your answer.
b) Why did this happen? Explain using concepts of osmosis.
3. Complete the following graphic organizer by filling in the words in the correct location:
GUMMY BEAR
DISTILLED WATER
SALT WATER
LOW
Concentration of Water
HIGH