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Modeling Diffusion in The Cell

The document describes an experiment to model diffusion in cells using agar cubes of different sizes placed in vinegar. Students create agar cubes of different dimensions and record how long it takes for the blue color to diffuse out when placed in vinegar, with smaller surface area to volume ratios diffusing faster. They then design their own agar 'cell' to maximize volume and mass while minimizing diffusion time.

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MA. HAZEL TEOLOGO
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
23 views

Modeling Diffusion in The Cell

The document describes an experiment to model diffusion in cells using agar cubes of different sizes placed in vinegar. Students create agar cubes of different dimensions and record how long it takes for the blue color to diffuse out when placed in vinegar, with smaller surface area to volume ratios diffusing faster. They then design their own agar 'cell' to maximize volume and mass while minimizing diffusion time.

Uploaded by

MA. HAZEL TEOLOGO
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Name:__________________________________________Date:_______

Investigation: Modeling Diffusion in the Cell


Essential Question: How does the size and shape
of a cell influence the speed at which materials
can move into and out of the the cell?

Process: Create cell models using agar molds to


compare rates of diffusion.

Materials:

Agar Mold with BTB (made in advance)


Tweezers, Scalpel (or plastic knife)
Ruler, Beaker with white vinegar

Procedure
1. You will receive a small tray filled with an agar mold. *See below for directions* Avoid handling the agar with
your bare hands and use a scalpel and tweezers to cut three agar cubes with the following approximate
dimensions. Save your agar, you will need it later!

1 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm (small)
2 cm x 2 cm x 2 cm (medium)
1 cm x 1 cm x 6 cm (large)

2. Measure your cubes (the actual dimensions may not be perfect, depending on how you cut it) and determine
the surface area, the volume, and the SA:V ratio. Record on data table.

3. Drop each block into a separate beaker (or container) of vinegar. The agar has been infused with a chemical
called bromthymol blue, the blue will turn to a yellow in the presence of acid. You will be able to observe this
change with your cubes. Record the time it takes for the blue to completely disappear.

Actual
Surface Area Volume SA / V Time (Blue to Orange)
Dimensions
Small Cube
Medium Cube
Large Cube

Part 2: How Does Shape Influence Rates of Diffusion?


With what remains of your agar, design a cell that maximizes volume and mass, but minimizes diffusion
time.

Your "cell" will compete with other cells in the class to see which one has the fastest diffusion time.

Rules:

No donut­like holes through the agar cell ­ cell membranes cannot sustain this shape
No poking or agitating the beaker when the cell is submerged
Instructor determines when 100% diffusion has occurred
Agar cell will be massed at the end of the race
Winner = highest ratio of mass divided by time

Sketch your design below.


Analysis
1. Which of the initial cubes had the fastest diffusion time? Which had the slowest?

2. Which of the three variables you tested seemed to have the biggest impact on the rate of diffusion? Explain how
you know this.

3. How does the agar cube model the cell and the cell membrane?

4. What designs (Part 2) seemed to have the fastest diffusion rate?

5. How do these experiments model the cell and the cell membrane?
Agar Recipe:

15 g of agar in 1 liter water (or follow directions on packaging). You do want the agar to be thick so that it can be
handled, so reduce water amounts. Agar is boiled in DI water and then allowed to cool. Knox gelatin can also be
subsituted, but you may need to play around with the measurements.

While it is cooling, add .1 g of bromothymol blue (or about 10 ml aqueous solution, you just need to ensure that
the agar turns a dark blue.) If the mixture is green/yellow, then add NaOH until it turns blue.

Pour agar into trays for students. You can be creative with the trays (ziploc tupperware containers should work, or
even metal dissecting trays.) The molds must be at least 2 cm deep. Molds can be covered and refrigerated.

These are the molds I created using specimen containers and the lids from a box of micropipettes. You can be
creative!

*This lab set­up is very flexible!

Alternatively, you can add phenolphthalein to the agar and then submerge cubes in sodium hydroxide. <­­ this
tends to be more expensive than white vinegar, and NaOH is dangerous to handle.

Image below shows saturation of agar by vinegar. The yellow area started as blue. A ruler placed under the flask
can be used as another way to measure the rate of diffusion.

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