Laboratory 4 Response_Data Sheet

Hypertonic solution

A solution with a higher concentration of solutes compared to another solution, resulting in water moving out of cells.

Osmosis

The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration.

Isotonic solution

A solution that has the same solute concentration as another solution, leading to no net movement of water in or out of cells.

Hypotonic solution

A solution with a lower concentration of solutes compared to another solution, resulting in water moving into cells.

Molecular weight

The mass of a molecule; lower molecular weights typically correspond to faster diffusion rates.

Rate of diffusion

The speed at which substances spread from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Selective diffusion

The process by which certain molecules are allowed to pass through a membrane while others are not.

Crenation

The shrinkage of cells that occurs when they are placed in a hypertonic solution.

Benedict's solution

A chemical reagent used to test for the presence of reducing sugars.

Potassium ferricyanide

A chemical compound used in the lab that diffused faster than Methylene Blue due to its lower molecular weight.