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Osmosis Lab “The Rubber Egg”
Eugene F. Waddell
Ivy Tech Community College
APHY 101-XX
01/25/2022
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Abstract
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The purpose of this experiment was to show how osmosis presents itself using an egg in different
types of fluids. Vinegar, Corn Syrup and Water being our three test beds. The hypothesis being
that after using all three liquid methods to immerse our egg in, we shall see different textures,
shapes and sizes on our egg. The general method used to conduct this experiment was to
immerse the egg in our three different liquids, separately, for several days apiece and watch it
change shape and size with each one. The results were to what was expected. The vinegar
basically dissolved the shell and hardened the egg, the corn syrup transferred molecules from the
egg to the syrup therefore reducing the size and consistent shape of the egg, and the water
immersion then rehydrated the egg with the transfer of molecules from the water back into the
egg.
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Osmosis Lab “The Rubber Egg”
With this experiment we will be demonstrating Osmosis and its effect on the solubility and
permeability on an egg using three different fluids. We will be showing how water moves back
and forth through the eggs membrane with differences in the high and low concentration areas of
each fluid used. We are using three different fluids; Vinegar for our initial egg soak, Corn Syrup
for our second egg soak after rinsing, and water for our last egg soak. All three are different but
will demonstrate the flow of water across the egg’s membrane.
Methods
A cartooned, store bought egg was cleaned and placed into a cup of vinegar for 2 days. After two
days the egg was removed from the vinegar, rinsed and observed. The egg’s size had enlarged
due to the acidity of the vinegar and the shell had weakened and was pliable, leaving the semisolid egg body. After rinsing thoroughly with water, the egg was placed in a clean cup and
submerged in corn syrup. This again was left for two days and in that two days’ time the egg
shape changed dramatically to that of a large prune. This being due to the transfer of the water in
the egg to the syrup solution. The final part of this experiment was the rinse the egg again in
water thoroughly an place it in a clean cup this time filled with water. After two days the egg was
back to a semi-normal shape with a somewhat reduction in size. Again, this being due the
osmosis of the water across the membrane of the egg, therefore re-hydrating it again.
The equipment used was one egg, three clear plastic cups, vinegar, corn syrup, and tap water.
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Results
The results of the experiment are as follows;
The cartoned, store bought egg – Egg is white, exterior smooth and looks like a normal store
bought egg.
The egg after soaking in vinegar – Egg is white, smooth and slick to the touch, smells like
vinegar. Egg shell is pliable.
The egg after soaking in corn syrup – Egg is brownish color, shell is gone, texture is that of a
large prune, body is spongy and looks like brain matter.
The egg after soaking in water – Egg is brownish white in color, swollen or re-hydrated and
about ready to fall apart due to multiple days in various liquids.
Discussion
In this section, interpret the results of the experiment. Draw conclusions and support
those conclusions with your data. State whether or not your hypothesis was correct. Explain why
or why not. If there were any specific questions your instructor asked you to address in the
discussion, this is the place to include it. Make connections between observations made in the lab
experiment and concepts you are learning about in the course. Note if there were any limitations
or errors encountered while conducting the experiment. How could it be improved? What are
some next steps you can think of for future studies/experiments? This section may be several
paragraphs long.
Use internal citations throughout the document whenever you are referencing ideas from
another source. The internal citations should appear in parentheses at the end of the sentence or
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My results showed the egg increased in mass from being soaked in the vinegar. This was
due to the concentration difference in the vinegar and the egg. Water moved from the vinegar to
the egg therefore enlarging it from the water transfer. After removing the egg from the vinegar
and thoroughly rinsing it, it was placed in the corn syrup. Again, after soaking for several days
the eggs shape, color and texture changed as water moved across the egg membrane and into the
corn syrup, high water concentration to low concentration. And for the final part of my
experiment, the egg was rinsed and placed in a cup of water. Again, the egg changed shape, color
and texture as the water moved from the high concentration gradient to the low concentration of
the egg.
In conclusion the experiment supported the conclusions that I wrote about in my first
paragraph, and showed how the fluids used traveled across the eggs membrane changing its size,
shape and texture with each one. The objectives of the experiment showed how the process of
osmosis works while being examined.
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References
List your citations referenced in the report using APA format. Be sure to format the
entries correctly depending on the type of resource: a book, a journal article, a website, etc.
Here is an Ivy Tech resource you can use to review APA formatting:
Ivy Tech APA formatting resource