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Grade 8 - Onion Cell Lab: Problem

This document outlines an experiment to observe the effects of hypertonic and isotonic solutions on onion cells. Students will extract onion cells and observe them under a microscope in water and salt water. They will document any changes in cell appearance and structure. The purpose is to see how cell membranes are affected by solutions of different tonicities and understand osmosis on a cellular level. Students will analyze their results and draw conclusions about the effects of hypertonic, isotonic and hypotonic solutions.

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Kenneth Rosenthal
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121 views5 pages

Grade 8 - Onion Cell Lab: Problem

This document outlines an experiment to observe the effects of hypertonic and isotonic solutions on onion cells. Students will extract onion cells and observe them under a microscope in water and salt water. They will document any changes in cell appearance and structure. The purpose is to see how cell membranes are affected by solutions of different tonicities and understand osmosis on a cellular level. Students will analyze their results and draw conclusions about the effects of hypertonic, isotonic and hypotonic solutions.

Uploaded by

Kenneth Rosenthal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Grade 8 - Onion Cell Lab

Name:

Problem:

1) How will submerging cells in a hypertonic solution affect their structure?

Hypothesis:

Materials:

• Onion
• Scalpel
• Microscope
• Glass slide
• Cover slip
• Iodine
• Water
• Salt Water

Variables:

Manipulating Variable: _____________________

Responding Variable: _____________________

Controlled Variables: ______________________

______________________

______________________

Procedure:
Part 1:

1. Prepare a glass slides and a cover slip ( make sure they are washed and dryed)
2. Retrieve ISOTONIC single onion epitheleal cell layer with scalpel/tweezers (thinner is
better)
3. Place cell layer on petri dish and add one drop of iodine
4. Take layer and add to glass slide, with a cover slip over top ( make sure there are no air
bubbles, gently tap out air bubbles if there are any)
5. Observe the cells under 4x, 10x, and 40x with the diaphragm wide open. Slowly reduce the
light intensity by closing the diaphragm, and observe the image.
6. In the space provide below, draw a group of 5 neighboring cells at 40x. In one cell, label
all the parts you see.

Onion Cell Diagram - Isotonic Solution

Part 2:

1. Prepare a glass slides and a cover slip ( make sure they are washed and dryed)
7. Retrieve HYPERTONIC single onion epitheleal cell layer with scalpel/tweezers (thinner is
better)
8. Place cell layer on petri dish and add one drop of iodine
9. Take layer and add to glass slide, with a cover slip over top ( make sure there are no air
bubbles, gently tap out air bubbles if there are any)
10. Observe the cells under 4x, 10x, and 40x with the diaphragm wide open. Slowly reduce the
light intensity by closing the diaphragm, and observe the image.
11. In the space provide below, draw a group of 5 neighboring cells at 40x. In one cell, label
all the parts you see.

Onion Cell Diagram - Hypertonic Solution

Analysis:

1. How did the saltwater solution and the pure water affect the appearance of onion cells?
2. Explain using proper scientific vocabulary what happened to each cell in the hypertonic
solution

3. How could I reverse the effect of putting cells in a hypertonic solution?

4. Explain using proper scientific vocabulary what would happen to each cell if they were put in a
hypotonic solution

Validity:

Reliability:
Conclusion:

References:

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