Name: _____________________________________
Period: ___________
Date: _____________
Pg.______
Gummy Bear Osmosis Lab
Gummy Bears do some interesting things when put into different liquids.
In this experiment, we will find out what will happen when we put the
Gummy Bears into water and salt water.
Background Information:
 Gummy bears are made from a mixture of sugar, glucose syrup, starch, food coloring,
citric acid (vitamin C), gelatin and added flavoring.
 Gelatin absorbs water to a certain extent. There is a limit to how much water a certain
amount of gelatin can hold.
 Salt is a solute and draws water towards it. Water moves toward the direction where there
is more salt and less water.
 Materials:
 Gummy Bears
 Salt
 Triple Beam
 Masking tape
Balance
 Markers
 Metric Ruler
 Water
 Plastic Cups
Procedure:
1. State the question and record in the Scientific Method Chart.
2. Make qualitative observations about the gummy bears. Record your observations in The
Scientific Method Chart.
3. Make quantitative observations using the following measuring methods. Record these
measurements in your data tables. Always be sure to write your units of measurements.
Points will be taken off if you do not!
Measurements:
a. The length of your gummy bear should be measured from the top of its head to the
bottom of its feet to the nearest Millimeter.
b. Measure the width at the widest point across the back of the bear to the nearest
Millimeter.
c. Measure the thickness from the front to the back at the thickest point to the nearest
Millimeter.
d. Calculate the volume by multiplying the length, width, and thickness (Depth) –
Round to the nearest hundredth. (V = L x W x D). The unit for volume is cm3.
e. Measure the mass using a triple-beam balance or other scale to the nearest tenth of a
gram.
f. Calculate the density by dividing the mass by the volume – Round answer to the
nearest hundredth (D = M/V). The unit for density would be g/cm3
4. Identify your independent (manipulated) variable and your dependent (responding)
variable. Be sure to record this in the Scientific Method Chart and EXPLAIN why those are
your variables.
5. Write your hypothesis for each of the solutions a gummy bear is placed in. Be sure to write
it using the “If…then…” method. Be sure to use the terms hypotonic and hypertonic in
your hypothesis.
6. Prepare 2 plastic cups with the following labels: water and salt water. Each cup will get a
different solution as follows:
 Pour 50 ml of Water into one cup
 Mix 50 ml of Water with 15 ml (1 tbsp.) of Salt in one cup.
7. Place the water and salt water gummy bear NEXT TO the corresponding plastic cup on a
disposable plate. Be sure to put the gummy bear you measured for salt water next to the
salt water cup. Same for the water gummy bear. I will place the gummy bear in the
solution for you! Place your control gummy on the plate and sure to label it control.
8. On Day 2, remove the Gummy Bears from each mixture and use a paper towel to gently
dry it off to prevent it from dripping all over the place.
9. Repeat the measurements for each Gummy Bear and record your data in the correct
portion of the data tables. Also, determine the amount of change for each measurement,
for each Gummy Bear and record in the chart.
10. Using your results, determine if your hypothesis was supported or not. “The hypothesis
that……was supported because……” Be sure to use complete sentences.
Name: _____________________________________
Period: ___________
Date: _____________
Pg.______
GUMMY BEAR OSMOSIS LAB
Question
Observations
Qualitative
1.
2.
Quantitative
*See data
tables
3.
4.
Variables (Explain)
Independent (manipulated) –
Dependent (responding) –
Hypothesis
Water:
“If…then…because”
Salt Water:
Results
Water:
Qualitative
Salt Water:
Quantitative
*See data tables
Data Tables
Fill in the following data tables for all three gummy bears. Be sure to label all measurements with the
correct units of measurements.
Water
Day
Length
Width
Thickness
Volume
Mass
Density
Length
Width
Thickness
Volume
Mass
Density
Length
Width
Thickness
Volume
Mass
Density
1
2
Amount of
Change (+/-)
Salt Water
Day
1
2
Amount of
Change
Control
Day
1
2
Amount of
Change
CONCLUSION. Were your hypotheses correct? Use evidence (numerical) to explain and write in
complete sentences. Use the following terms: hypotonic, hypertonic, solute, solvent, solution,
concentration gradient, equilibrium. (Write on a separate sheet of paper for more space and staple it to
this lab.)