So, I'm here again to give you more information about some experiment that I've done (ho-hum -o-). However though, this experiment was kind of cool. This time it involved eggs! Since we are studying passive and active transport. We used these eggs to represent the cell membrane, just so that we can have a clearer image of how the cell membrane acts during this whole process of passive and active trasnport.
Dear reader, if you are confused by now, please read the following two paragraphs below:
Passive- the movement of molecules across the cell membrane, that does not require the cell's energy. Example: Osmosis, facilitated diffusion, and diffusion (occurs when molecules move from an area where they are highly concentrated, to an area where they are less concentrated).
Active transport- well basically, the same thing, except that the cell's energy is required. Not to mention that this kind of transport occurs in the other way around: molecules move from an area where they are lowly concentrated, to another area, where they are very concentrated (since the molecules are moving to an opposite direction, the cell needs energy to move them)-uuum...I guess I shall say, that it is a reversed diffusion?
Er-herm, skipping the explanations (don't complain! This time, I made it short!), I shall now talk about the experiment (don't know if this is going to be long, but please remain seated and keep reading the rest ^_^). So we started with two eggs and for those eggs, we chose two solutions. My group (yes, again, the project/experiment was to be done in groups) chose alcohol (yeeeeeaaaaah! xD) and corn syrup (good? 0.0). We then, measured each of the eggs's circumference (with a string-to put aroung the egg- and a ruler-to measure the resulting length of the string) and mass (with an electronic weight). We also labeled them, Egg #1 and Egg #2 (very creative -.-"). Egg #1 was left in 80 mL of alcohol (lucky >.<) , while Egg #2, in 80 mL of corn syrup (whatever). This was the first day of the experiment (when is it going to finish? x.x).
Now now then, my fellow viewers. Let us make a little guess (of course, in relation to this experiment. This is not a gamble so please put your money back into where it belongs -.-"). In other words, a hypothesis. Since this blog is mine (muahahaha only MINE!>:)), I will only put my guess (actually, my group's). I (we) believe that if an egg were to be left in alcohol or corn syrup, it will get bigger. The reason for this is because we believed that the eggs had less water molecules, than each of those solutions (80mL). As a result, the water molecules from each solution will diffuse (will go from the area where they are more concentrated, to an area where they are less) to the inside of the egg, where they are not as concentrated (how many times do I have to keep repeating this? -.-").
Continuing, on the second day, my team members removed the eggs from their solutions and measured again, their mass and circumference. We then noticed that egg #1 had lost some of its mass, but had its circumference increased (what the...0.0?) and also, that egg #2 had lost some of its mass too and had its circumference, decreased. In addition to the changes in mass and circumference, there was also a change in the appearance of the eggs: egg #1 became white (0o0), while egg #2 became dark yellow (...). Although their appearances did change, their textures remained the same. What's interesting is that, not only did the eggs change, but their solutions also: the corn syrup solution had increased (good, good) and the alcohol solution had decreased (whaaat?! o0o). Later, we had to share our data with the other group members, who were working with the same solutions as we were, plus get their data (uuuummm, in simpler words: sharing data -.-""). After recording the fresh, new data, we put the eggs back to their little solutions and sprinted out of the science classroom, in order to escape the awful egg and solution scent from the science classroom (well there was an awful smell, I couldn't help it! Dx). Day 2 was over.
P.S. (for day 2): Because of this thing of checking other people's datas, my group and I found out that we got a very weird result for egg #1's circumference. 0.0
On day 3, (-.-"), we did the same thing as before: removed the eggs from their solutions, measured their weight and mass, look at them, measured their solutions, and then, got other people's results
(muahahahahaha >: D) and gave ours to them (noooooooo o0o). Egg #1's circumference and mass had decreased, including its solution. The corn syrup had also decreased, but egg #2, though, had increased in size and in mass (ooooooooooh 0o0)! Hence, we concluded the third day of our experiment.
Ladies and gentlemen, pllease be good and read the information in the tables and also, what is below them (my guess about what happened between the eggs and the solutions during the three days). I don't know if you did notice, but I didn't clearly say my results, did I? Well, in case you are curious, you can consult these tables. ^^ Now, unfortunate viewers, you shall prepare to face your doom of having (not that necessary, actually) to read a veeeeery long story about the complicated egg experiment.
The Results of the Diffusion and of the Osmosis that Occurred between a De-Shelled Egg and Alcohol.
| Egg’s Color | Egg’s Texture | Egg's Mass (g) | Egg’s Circumference (cm) | Alcohol’s Solution (mL) |
Day 1 (start) | Yellow | Soft & jelly-like | 68.45 | 14.5 | 80 |
Day 2 | White | Soft & jelly-like | 62.15 | 14.75 | 68.5 |
Day 3 | White | Outside: soft. Yolk: a little hard. | 60.59 | 14 | 46.5 |
Data: Alice’s (my lovely classmate *coff* *coff* >.>"" hahahaha) and mine
The Results of the Diffusions and of the Osmosis Occurred between a De-Shelled Egg and Corn Syrup.
| Egg’s Color | Egg’s Texture | Egg's Mass (g) | Egg’s Circumference (cm) | Corn Syrup Solution (mL) |
Day 1 (start) | Yellow | Soft & jelly-like | 74.7 | 17.75 | 80 |
Day 2 | Dark yellow | Soft & jelly-like | 65.15 | 14.5 | 82.5 |
Day 3 | Dark yellow (a little clearer, than before) | Outside: soft. Yolk: Hard | 72.5 | 32.5 | 67.5 |
Data: Bruno’s (Thanks for the data, bro! Uum, yeah, he's another classmate) and mine
FYI osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a membrane. Basically, it is a diffusion with just water molecules. Osmosis can occur between the human body cells and the water that is near them. For example, the water molecules from the water can diffuse to the cells, for the cells won't have as much water molecules as the water. Thus, the cells can receive water for their cytoplasms (the gel-like substance where most of the cell organelles can be found).
Since I don't want to make this scientific story telling as confusing as it already it is, therefore, instead of talking about both eggs at the same time, I will talk about each one of them individually.
Egg #1
From day 1 to day 3, egg #1's mass decreased (68.45g to 62.15g to then, 60.59g), the alcohol solution had also decreased (80mL to 68.5mL to then, 46.5mL). Since the egg had less liquid, than the solution, according to diffusion (the movement of molecules from an area where they are more concentrated, to an area where they are less), the egg’s mass had to increase, for the amount of liquid (the osmosis/osmotic effects, a kind of diffusion (but with water molecules), while the amount of alcohol solution had to decrease. However though, in this case, the amount of alcohol and the mass of egg #1, had decreased. What I can say about this result is that, maybe, although it might seem as if the amount of liquid (alcohol) was greater than the amount of liquid in the egg, since an alcohol is composed of other particles, such as carbon, I should assume that maybe the concentration of water in an alcohol solution is lower, than of the egg’s (egg white); therefore the osmosis that occurred between the egg and the alcohol was: water molecules from the egg diffused to the alcohol. If that happened, then the amount of alcohol should’ve increased, while the egg’s mass would’ve decreased, but let’s not forget about evaporation, for the alcohol was exposed to oxygen from day 1 to day 2 and day 2 to day 3, and also, the fact that osmosis is not the only passive transport taking place in this experiment (oooooooh 0o0). What I mean is that, maybe there might be a diffusion of the ethanol in the alcohol, into the egg (which could explain why egg #1 became white and smelled of alcohol in the end). This might explain the reason for the amount of alcohol solution having to be decreased, instead of being increased. Another thing that I've noticed was that before the experiment, we rinsed the egg. If I were to guess, maybe some of the water molecules from the water that came out from the sink, had gotten in the egg, for the egg also has pores (which enables the embryos to receive oxygen). With that, the egg might've received more water molecules (where's the alcohol?! >.<).
Now, since egg #1’s mass decreased, its circumference, should’ve also. I believe that an error had occurred during the procedure that made the egg’s circumference increase (14.5cm to 14.75): maybe we might’ve measured it wrong, for we didn’t used any math in order to calculate the circumference more accurately. Instead, we just got the string, put it around the egg, and measured its length with a ruler. What could’ve occurred was that my teammate might’ve measured it too fast and not so carefully (making the string loose around the egg, maybe?). Fortunately, the egg’s circumference had decreased from day 2 to day 3 (14.75cm to 14cm), due to what happened between the egg and the solution, that I explained before, in the first paragraph. I believe that if the circumference were to decrease, then the cause of it might be the same thing that was happening in the previous paragraph (the water molecules of the egg diffusing to the alcohol solution, the ethanol of the alcohol solution, moving into the egg, and evaporation occuring-might take away some of the water molecule in the alcohol solution, by having oxygen parties combining with hydrogen molecules).
In my opinion, the reason why egg #1 had turned from yellow, to white, was probably because of (I know that I've already explained this before x.x but it's just to make this clear with those, who were sleeping during my story >: <) the alcohol in the egg, which affected its proteins' shapes, turning the egg into a white solid substance.
From day 1 to day 2, the egg remained soft and jelly-like. I believe that this was resulted by the excessibe diffusion of water particles in the egg, to the solution. During day 2 to day 3 though, egg #1 went from being soft and jelly-like, to having its outside part soft and its yolk, hard. I believe that this happened because since the liquid from the egg diffused to the alcohol solution, the yolk didn’t become as liquid as before. So then I shall say that the egg didn’t have as much liquid as it had before, but yes, a more concentrated amount of protein. Not to mention that the proteins couldn't diffuse, for they were too big to be able to go across the membrane (haha fatsos! xD)
Oh bummer! In the end, me prediction wasn't right (and no, I won't be paying anyone, ok?). Egg #1 didn't increase, but instead, decreased (14.5cm to 14cm). Although, according to my data, the circumference had increased (14.5cm to 14.75cm) , it was an unexpected and wrong result, for it was supposed to decrease (according to my teacher and also to what I started thinking, after various reflections).
Egg #2
From day 1 to day 2, the mass and the circumference of egg #2 had decreased (74.7g to 65.15g/17.75cm to14.5cm). This occurred, probably because of the osmosis and the diffusion that occurred between the egg and the corn syrup solution. The water molecules from the inside of the egg could've diffused to the corn syrup, resulting in the loss of the weight and the size of the egg, plus the increase of the amount of corn syrup. Since the egg might’ve had more water molecules, than the corn syrup. Unlike the alcohol, the corn syrup’s amount had increased from day 1 to day 2, probably because a lot of particles from the egg might’ve diffused to the corn syrup; in order to make the amounts of that particle balanced in both sides. Yes, I do believe that evaporation occurred, but I think that the volume of the solution had increased so much that after some of it evaporated, the amount of corn syrup still remained greater, than before (80mL to 82.5mL). I also think that at the same time that the osmosis was occuring, the diffusion of the sugar from the corn syrup to the egg, was also happening. For there aren't any or a lot of sugar in the egg; therefore the sugar from the corn syrup, was moving from a place, where it was more concentrated, to a place where it was less (in order to maintain balance between the amounts of sugar in both sides). The reason why I think this might've happened is because, on the third day, after cutting egg #2 open, I smelled a sweet (sugar) smell comming from the egg.
In day 3, however, the egg’s mass and circumference had increased (62.15g to 72.5g/14.5cm to 32.5cm), while the solution decreased (82.5mL to 67.5mL). This could’ve been due to another diffusion with the water molecules in both egg and solution (in order to make the amount of water molecules balanced in both sides), the diffusion of sugar, and also, evaporation. There might’ve occurred a movement of water molecules and the sugar in the solution, from it, to the egg; thus, resulting in its decrease (not to mention that evaporation also occurred). Moreover, because everybody in my class (ok, most of them -.-"), including me, believes that the increase of 14.5 to 32.5cm (egg #2's circumference) is too unexpected, I shall then try to guess the cause for the abnormality. I think that the culprit is...the string! 0o0 0o0 0o0 0o0 0o0 (ok whatever). In day 3, my group and I noticed that somehow, egg #2 had become too soft and kind of wrinkled; therefore I believe that while we were measuring the egg, we might've squeezed the egg too much with the string, thus, resulting in this radical decrease. Well? Where are the applauses? (to be honest, miss helped me with that one T^T).
Now, I think that the reason why the egg turned to dark yellow from the first day, to the second day, is probably because of the sugar (caramel?) diffusing into the egg, making it turn the same color as the solution itself. Because the egg didn’t have that substance, the diffusion between that substance occurred and the egg turned dark yellow, just like corn syrup.
Still, on the third day, the dark yellowish color turned clearer. Like I said before, on the third day, the water molecules moved from the solution, to the egg. Since there were more water molecules in the egg, than before, I assume that for that, this was what caused this change in tone.
From day 1 to day 2, the egg remained soft and jelly-like. I believe that this was resulted by the formation of a new molecule with the egg's protein and the diffused sugar of the solution, I think that that molecule was what was making the egg jelly-like and soft. On the third day, the yolk became harder, probably because most of the water in the egg, in that day, had diffused to the corn syrup solution, consequently making the yolk harder. All of this is happened in order to make the amount of certain particles and water molecules equal in both sides.
Well, according to my results, I would say that my predictions, again, were wrong (I thought that egg #2 will decrease). However though, according to my teacher (yah, the teacher is always right and the student just doesn't know a thing >.< just kidding), the corn syrup was supposed to increase, while the egg was supposed to decrease (ha! Pass the money!...)-diffusion of water, maybe? In other words, my data was wrond, but my prediction was right 0.0.
So as you may have noticed during my explanations, there had occurred some errors. If you have forgotten (what?! No way!), well then, chills, for since I am very nice person (muahahaha only for now! >: >), I have provided a recap right below:
Possible Errors
a) Procedures:
1. My group and I could’ve measured the eggs' circumferences wrong (getting the string and only putting it around the egg, and then, measure the length), thus resulting in getting a “strange” result for egg #1’s circumference (a bigger size, when the mass of the egg decreased) and also, for egg #2's circumference (this time, a smaller size, a VERY SMALL size e.o).
2. During the experiment, we didn’t cover the plastic cups (with the solutions and the eggs), and because of that, small amounts of the solutions had evaporated.
3. While rinsing the egg, we could’ve not dried them properly (could’ve resulted in having more water molecules going into the egg).
4. During the experiment, since corn syrup is very sticky, while we were rinsing the graduated cylinder (where the corn syrup was), or removed egg #2 from the solution (some of the corn syrup could've sticked to the egg), some of the corn syrup might've been removed from the solution. I believe that this was one of the causes that made the corn syrup's amount, decrease, when it was supposed to increase.
Solutions:
- Measure the egg’s radius or diameter, and use the formula: Circumference= diameter x pi. This way, we could get a more accurate answer.
- Cover the plastic cups with a napkin or a paper, to prevent most of the evaporation.
- Dry the eggs properly and carefully, with patience.
4.Try to scrape all of the corn syrup out of the material, where it is sticked to (if you think tjat the material will be removing some of the solution's amount).
Possible Errors:
b) Equipment:
1. My team’s plastic cups couldn’t hold 100mL. Changing from 100mL to 80mL, in my opinion, will affect the results, for both of them are different amounts (who knows how the diffusion and osmosis will occur between the eggs and the 100mL solutions 0.0).
Solutions:
1. Try to use another source that can hold 100mL, or calculate how much mL can the source that you are going to use, can hold, in order to predict the total amount of a solution to use in the experiment.
Evaluation:
Me: I have to admit that I haven’t done anything during the experiment, but the reason for this is not because I was fooling around and was distracted, but because I was the last to finish taking notes and my teammates were very fast. However though, I did cut egg #1 in the end xD (it was awesome! *w*).
Carme: She did a good job in measuring the egg’s circumference and mass. However though, I think she could’ve used the formula to calculate the circumference of the egg, instead of putting the string around the egg and measuring its length (just so that she can make the answer more accurate).
Victor: He also did a good job in measuring the egg’s circumference and mass; together with Carme (they shared their jobs). Like Carme, I just think that he should’ve used the formula to calculate the egg’s circumference, instead of using the same method as Carme (to make the answer more accurate).
In order to make us explore the eggs more, miss allowed us to cut them (thanks miss! I had lots of fun! muahahahahaha!). This how their interior looked like:
 |
| Egg #1-Turned out to look exaclty like a boiled egg, but with a hard , sticky yolk. |
 |
| Egg #1- The fact that it looked like a boiled egg, made me want to eat it, but I later lost my appetite after smelling the achohol Dx. |
 |
| Egg #2-In the end, the so-called egg WHITE became an egg YELLOW, now that's for sure, |
 |
| The smell: AWFUL! Dx Sugar with vinegar x.x |
What's good about this experiment is that it had contributted to my learning. After doing this, I've deepened my understanding in relation to diffusion and osmosis. For instance, I never thought how osmosis and diffusion could change the appearance and the texture of the elements that are being involved in them. I mean, I knew that those elements coulc change, but I was only expecting small changes in the outside, and huge in the inside. Next time, I will try to be more aware of all of the element's modifications and what exactlu are causing them (in relation to diffusion and osmosis).
Ah yes, if you would like to, please feel free to look at the graphs below. Just so that you can be able to compare the results between egg #1 and egg #2, plus the solutions. ^^
.
