Aim: to investigate the response of cells when placed into different external conditions (sucrose solution and water)
We wanted to investigate the effect of osmosis. osmosis can be defined as the movement of water through a partially permeable membrane down a concentration gradient from a high water potential to a low water potential.
We wanted to investigate the effect of osmosis. osmosis can be defined as the movement of water through a partially permeable membrane down a concentration gradient from a high water potential to a low water potential.
This image was taken when the onion cells had been in the sucrose solution for a few minutes. Most of the cells are still turgid with their cytoplasms pushed against their cell walls. However, notably you can see that some cells have become plasmolysed as their cell membranes have fallen away from the cell walls creating irregular spaces in the cells. This occurs due to the water within the cells moving out of the cells due to their being a higher water concentration in the cells than the sucrose solution. Other cells also appear flaccid.
This experiment represents the importance of osmosis to insure that cells within plants remain turgid which means that plant can remain rigid.
This experiment represents the importance of osmosis to insure that cells within plants remain turgid which means that plant can remain rigid.