Gummy Bear Lab
Observing Osmosis
Biology
Name: ______________________________________________ Period: ________ Lab Station: _______
Learning Goals:
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You will investigate osmosis
You will calculate the percent change of height, width, and mass of the gummy bear.
You will create a data table and analyze your results
You will implement experimental design.
Key Terms
Define the following vocabulary words:
Diffusion:____________________________________________________________________________
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Osmosis:_____________________________________________________________________________
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Selectively permeable: ________________________________________________________________
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Active Transport: _____________________________________________________________________
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Passive Transport: ____________________________________________________________________
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Isotonic:_____________________________________________________________________________
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Hypertonic:__________________________________________________________________________
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Hypotonic:___________________________________________________________________________
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1
Gummy Bear Lab
Observing Osmosis
Biology
Predictions
1. How will soaking gummy bears in distilled water affect the size of the candy? Explain your
prediction based on your knowledge and the background information.
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2. How will soaking gummy bears in salt water affect the size of the candy? Explain your
prediction based on your knowledge and the background information.
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3. How will soaking gummy bears in corn syrup affect the size of the candy? Explain your
prediction based on your knowledge and the background information.
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Experimental Design
4. List the independent variables in this experiment:
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5. List the dependent variables in this experiment:
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6. List the controlled variables in this experiment:
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Materials
2 beakers, 3 empty paper cups, wax paper, stirring spoon, paper cup with 30g of salt, corn
syrup, water, ruler, digital scale, 4 gummy bears (same color), cup labels
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Gummy Bear Lab
Observing Osmosis
Biology
Procedure: Day 1
1. Fill out your solution labels with your class period and lab station number
2. Place one label on each paper cup, making sure to put salt water label on the cup with
salt already inside
3. Use beaker labeled WATER to measure and pour 30 mL of water into your cup labeled
WATER
4. Use same beaker to measure and pour 30 mL of water into 30g of salt into your cup
labeled SALT, Mix until dissolved.
5. Use beaker labeled SYRUP to measure and pour 30 mL of corn syrup into your cup
labeled SYRUP.
6. Choose one gummy bear to go into each cup. The fourth gummy bear will go into your
empty cup labeled CONTROL
7. Use the ruler to find the height & width of each bear. Record your results in the data
table on page 4. Round your measurements to the nearest tenth.
Height
Width
8. Use the scale to weigh each gummy bear. Record your results in the data table on page
4. Round your measurements to the nearest tenth.
9. Record any other qualitative observations about the gummy bear in the data table on
page 4. Examples include: color or shape irregularities
10. Place one gummy bear into each cup: WATER, SALT, SYRUP, & CONTROL
Procedure: Day 2
1. Use the scale to weigh the piece of wax paper. Record the mass below:
a. wax paper mass: _______________ (Water)
b. wax paper mass: _______________ (Salt)
c. wax paper mass: _______________ (Syrup)
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Gummy Bear Lab
Observing Osmosis
Biology
2. GENTLY take your gummy bear out of the water cup with a SPOON and place it on
the wax paper.
3. Use the ruler to find the height & width of the water bear. Record your results in the
data table below. Round your measurements to the nearest tenth.
4. Pick up your wax paper with the water bear and weigh it. SUBTRACT the weight of
the gummy bear + wax paper from the wax paper alone (bear & wax paper – wax
paper mass from above = mass of bear alone) Record your results in the data table
below. Round your measurements to the nearest tenth.
5. Record any observations for the water bear on the data table below
6. Place this bear and wax paper aside.
7. Follow steps 1 – 6 for your syrup bear and your salt bear. Record the results in the
data table below.
DATA TABLE
WATER
Measurements
SALT WATER
CORN SYRUP
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 1
DAY 2
(before soak)
(after soak)
(before soak)
(after soak)
(before soak)
(after soak)
Width (cm)
Height (cm)
Mass (g)
Observations
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Gummy Bear Lab
Observing Osmosis
Biology
Analysis:
1. What happened to the bear after soaking it in water overnight? Why? Use your key
terms to explain the scientific reasoning behind your answer.
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2. What happened to the bear after soaking it in saltwater overnight? Why? Use your
key terms to explain the scientific reasoning behind your answer.
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3. What happened to the bear after soaking it in corn syrup overnight? Why? Use your
key terms to explain the scientific reasoning behind your answer.
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4. What do you think would happen to the salt water bear if it was placed back into
regular water overnight? Why?
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5. Write a short paragraph (4-5 sentences) to explain the results of this investigation
using the concept of osmosis. Include specific data from your experiment to support
your conclusions.
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