osmosis experiment for preschoolers

6 EASY ways to model OSMOSIS

Teaching osmosis?

Osmosis is one of my favorite topics to teach during the cells unit because it’s so easily visualized. There are quite a few ways to easily see osmosis in action! Here’s a round-up of six labs and the pros and cons of each:

1. EGG OSMOSIS

The “naked egg” lab is very popular in biology. Students really get a kick out of seeing the eggshell dissolve! In this lab, students dissolve the shell of an egg by soaking it in vinegar (this takes about 3 days, so its best to set up on a Friday). Once the shell is gone, students carefully transfer their naked eggs to hypotonic distilled water, and a hypertonic solution like corn syrup or molasses. Students compare the mass of the egg before and after soaking and figure out which way the water moved while attempting to reach equilibrium.

PROS: Students love this lab! Also, eggs are round like red blood cells, so they can visualize what happens to cells in different hypertonic or hypotonic solutions.

CONS: It can get expensive to purchase enough eggs for all of your classes. Also, expect some to break along the way, so soak some extras just in case. Overall, it feels a little wasteful of perfectly good eggs. Maybe do this one as a demonstration, and then choose one of the options below for students to do in groups.

2. PURPLE ONION SKIN

Of all the osmosis labs, this one might be my favorite because I’m partial to getting out the microscopes. In this lab, students get a small piece of onion skin and make a wet mount slide using fresh water. They will see nice rectangular purple onion cells. Next, they will swap out the fresh water for salt water, and watch the cytoplasm in each cell shrivel up. If your students already know how to use microscopes, this one is a hit! Here is a full blog post with more details and pictures.

Note: I used to use elodea for this lab, but it became difficult to find at pet stores since it is invasive in many states. Purple onion is easy and cheaper! You can also find a lab write-up here .

PROS: Inexpensive, and fool proof. It is impossible to mess up! Unlike other options, this lab uses real plant cells. Also, it is the only version that doesn’t require soaking things overnight so you can get it done in one class period.

CONS: Your classroom will smell like onion for a day.

3. DIALYSIS TUBING

This version is a little fancier, and is a great option if you have honors or AP students. In this lab, students will get dialysis tubing and fill them with varying concentrations of sugar water solution. They will measure the initial mass of the tubes, and then soak the dialysis tubing overnight in distilled water. The following day they will measure the new mass, and see how water moved across the dialysis tubing membrane. You can find a free version of this lab from Amy Brown on TpT.

PROS: Students collect quantitative data, and it feels more “scientific” than other options.

CONS: Dialysis tubing is expensive, and if students don’t tie the string tight enough they can leak.

4. GUMMY BEARS

I am the first to admit gummy bears are not my favorite option, but I know many teachers who love doing it this way. In this version, students soak gummy bears in tap water, distilled water, and salt water overnight. They measure the change in the size of the gummy bear using rulers.

PROS: A large bag of gummy bears is only a few dollars, and students always love working with candy.

CONS: I don’t love this lab because depending on the brand you buy, the gummy bears can begin to dissolve and fall apart. Also, since they are an irregular shape it is difficult to calculate the change in volume.

5. WATER BEADS

An alternative to gummy bears is water beads, or Orbeez. You set it up the same way by soaking them in fresh water and salt water. If your kid already has some at home, use them instead of gummy bears. I like them better for a few reasons:

PROS: Water beads won’t fall apart like gummy bears, even after soaking multiple days. Since they are round, you can have students measure the diameter, and calculate the volume of the sphere. Also, you can dry them out afterward, place them in a Tupperware, and re-use them the following year.

CONS: Orbeez are smaller than gummy bears, so if your students struggle taking small, accurate measurements that might be a point of struggle. (Note: Beware of cheaper off-brands you can find on Amazon, because they WILL fall part unlike Orbeez).

6. BABY CARROTS

Last but not least are baby carrots! In this lab, each lab group gets 2 baby carrots. Just like other labs, they measure the mass before and after soaking them in fresh and salt water. Students will also notice that the baby carrot soaked in salt water becomes flimsy and bendable overnight. If you have already covered organelles, this can lead to a discussion about vacuoles and how plant cells become limp and flimsy when they lose water. You can find a lab write-up on my website !

PROS: Inexpensive materials, and uses real plant cells.

CONS: You won’t see the size of the carrot change, only the flexible vs stiff texture.

Alright, which is your favorite? Choose one (or two) and have a blast!

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Simple Candy Osmosis Experiment

Demonstrate Osmosis Using Gummy Bears

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Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane. The water moves from an area of higher to lower solvent concentration (an area of lower to higher solute concentration). It's an important passive transport process in living organisms, with applications to chemistry and other sciences. You don't need fancy lab equipment to observe osmosis. You can experiment with the phenomenon using gummy bears and water. Here's what you do:

Osmosis Experiment Materials

Basically, all you need for this chemistry project are colored candies and water:

• Gummy bear candies (or other gummy candy)
• Plate or shallow bowl

The gelatin of the gummy candies acts as a semipermeable membrane . Water can enter the candy, but it's much harder for sugar and coloring to leave exit it.

What You Do

It's easy! Simply place one or more of the candies in the dish and pour in some water. Over time, water will enter the candies, swelling them. Compare the size and "squishiness" of these candies with how they looked before. Notice the colors of the gummy bears starts to appear lighter. This is because the pigment molecules (solute molecules) are being diluted by the water (solvent molecules) as the process progresses.

What do you think would happen if you used a different solvent, such as milk or honey, that already contains some solute molecules? Make a prediction, then try it and see.

How do you think osmosis in a gelatin dessert compares with osmosis in candy? Again, make a prediction and then test it!

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Gummy Bear Experiment

Osmosis can be a difficult concept for kids to understand. I’ve always found that visual explanations really hit home with kids and help them to understand. Today we have a growing gummy bear experiment that is a perfect compliment to our Gummy Mummy experiment that explores the science of desiccation and diffusion. Because gummy bears are made of gelatin they will not dissolve in water like other candy will. They will however absorb liquids and change in shape and size. We’ve set up an experiment with four different liquids to see the difference in how the gummy bears are able to absorb each and how they change over the course of the day.

Great Growing Gummies – Gummy Bear Osmosis Experiment

What you will discover in this article!

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What is Osmosis?

Scientifically, Osmosis is when solvent molecules (usually water) cross a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. This creates equilibrium between the solute and solvent, balancing the concentration of solutes on both sides of the membrane. Osmosis is a passive process in that it requires no energy from the cell to occur.

Now – that’s a lot of big words and concepts so let’s break down that vocabulary:

Solvent : substance able to dissolve other substances. Solute : a dissolved substance Membrane : a thin, soft flexible sheet or layer especially of a plant or animal part Semi-Permeable Membrane : a membrane that only allows certain substances to pass through. Concentration : the amount of a component in a given substance. Equilibrium : a state of adjustment between opposing or divergent influences or elements

Gummy Bear Osmosis Lab

Gummy Bears Small Clear Bowls or Jars Water Sparkling Water White Vinegar Oil

I like to start this in the morning so you can check on it throughout the day and see the changes in the gummy bears.

STEP 1: Lay out four bowls on the table and put a gummy bear in each bowl. Then beside each bowl put another gummy bear of the same color so you can compare the two easily over the course of the day.

STEP 2: Measure equal amounts of each of your solvents. We used a quarter of a cup of water, sparkling water, white vinegar and oil and poured them over the gummy bears in the bowl.

STEP 3: This is a great time to have a discussion about osmosis and have your kids make predictions about what they think is going to happen in each bowl and why. What effect might each substance have on the gummy bear? Have the kids write down their predictions.

STEP 4: Set a timer for an hour and let the bears do their thing.

STEP 5: Check back each hour for the rest of the day and write down observations over the course of the day.

Gummy Bear Osmosis Experiment Results

Now the exciting part… the results of our experiment! Let’s take a look at the results individually first.

When gummy bears are soaked in water the bear will swell and grow in size. This is because the water will flow into the gummy bear through its semi-permeable membrane. The sugar molecules try to spread and dissolve but they can’t get out of the gelatin so they expand resulting in the gummy bear expanding.

Sparkling Water

Will have a similar result to water. The only difference is that the addition of carbon dioxide to the water can have an acidic effect on the bears which would cause the outside to soften allowing more water to be able to pass through the bear and it swells up more. You will also be able to observe the carbon dioxide bubble sticking to the outside of the bear.

White Vinegar

White Vinegar will have an acidic reaction with the gummy bear softening the outside of it, however the liquid is not as easily absorbed into the bear as water so the gummy may get softer but will not change in size as much as the bears soaked in water.

Because oil is polar it doesn’t mix well with water or other substances. The oil will have very little effect on the bears and you will not see much change if any at all. This gummy bear will also retain its color the best because the oil isn’t breaking down the bear or being absorbed into it so the structure and color will remain the same.

Comparing the Results

The most fascinating part of this experiment is comparing the results of the different solvents. Set the gummy bears out side by side with their controls so you can visually see the differences.

To get really scientific with your results, which is perfect for your older kids or kids needing more of a challenge, have them weigh and measure the gummies and compare results with the controls and each other.

You can also dissect the gummy bears and view them under a microscope to look for microscopic changes.

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Gummy Bears Osmosis Experiment

Today we will combine two fun activities from our childhood: eating gummy bears and learning about osmosis just kidding about osmosis being fun, back then it was a hard concept to grasp. but in today’s experiment, we will show you how to learn this important concept in a fun and easy way, article contents.

What is Osmosis?

Osmosis is defined as the movement of water molecules from a solution with a higher concentration of water molecules to a solution with a lower concentration of water molecules, through a cell’s semipermeable (partially permeable) membrane . What do we mean by the concentration of water? It’s the proportion of the water in a solution. Let’s talk about that next.

Solvent, Solute, and Solution

Speaking about Osmosis, you will probably often hear about solvent, solute, and solution. So let’s see what they are.

A solvent is any substance that dissolves other substances that we put in it. The most common solvent is water . We know that if we, for example, add sugar to the water, it will dissolve. This is important since, in our organism, water dissolves ions and proteins in our cells.

On the other hand, in our example above, the sugar would be a solute . The solute is a substance dissolved in another substance. So, sugar (solute) dissolves in water (solvent).

And the product we get is called a solution . Solutions can have different concentrations , depending on how much solute we dissolve in a solvent. If we add more sugar to the water, it will be sweeter and denser, more concentrated. However, this solution will now have a lower concentration of water molecules, since there are other things (sugar) in as well.

To summarise – when sugar (solute) dissolves in water (solvent) we get a mixture of water and sugar (solution) .

What is Semi-Permeable Membrane?

Think of the membrane as a wall with gaps (it’s semipermeable!). When solutions on both sides of the wall have the same concentration, nothing interesting happens – there is an equal probability water molecules will move from each side of the wall so in the end concentration will stay the same.

However, if we change the balance on one side of the wall, for example, add salt to one side – water molecules will now move from the place where there are more of them (ordinary water) to a place where there are fewer of them (salted water).

This state of different concentrations is also called osmotic pressure and therefore the amount of liquid will increase on the side with more salt, and decrease on the side where the salt concentration is lower until the osmotic pressure is equalized. The goal is to reach equilibrium, a state where concentrations are the same on both sides.

Here, we have 2 explanations of the process:

• The Mechanical explanation is that molecules of salt are blocking the movement of the water molecules so they are less likely to move from that side. 
• The Chemical explanation is that salt molecules consist of ions – Na+ and Cl-. Since water molecules are also partially charged they are attracted to salt molecules and therefore don’t move through the membrane.

Why Is Osmosis Important?

Osmosis is essential for the survival of all living organisms . It allows nutrients and minerals to move inside the cells, through the cell membrane, and also for waste to move out of the cells. For example, plants absorb water from the earth through the process of osmosis.

Try to remember the last time you ate something salty, such as chips. You must have been very thirsty afterward. This is because salt prevents water from passing into the cell through the semipermeable membrane and no matter how much you drink, it is difficult to quench your thirst.

Let’s go now and demonstrate the osmosis process in a simple way using gummy bear candies and different solutions.

Materials needed for the Gummy Bear Experiment

• Gummy bears (gummy candies) . You can buy gummy candy in any grocery shop. We have used Haribo gummy bears and they worked well for our experiment. It is not important which gummy candy you use, but we have got reports that some types/brands of gummy candy won’t work well and will just dissolve. Best to have at least 4 gummy bears to make easy comparisons of all experimental results and the original gummy bear.
• Water . 2 deciliters of water will be enough. We will add 1 deciliter to 2 of our glasses. 
• Salt . One tablespoon of salt will be enough to act as a solvent and create a concentrated solution.
• Vinegar . We will need 1 deciliter of vinegar to serve us as the second solution and we will add it to the last glass.
• 3 glasses . Since we will have 3 experimental groups, we will need 3 glasses. In the first glass, we will add pure water. In the second glass, we will add water and salt. And in the third glass, we will add vinegar.

Instructions for making Gummy Bear Osmosis Experiment

Check the video at the beginning of the article to see how to conduct this experiment. As mentioned in the required materials section, we used three types of solvent (water, salted water, and vinegar) but you can experiment with any type of solvent.

• Prepare 4 gummy bears (one for every type of solvent, +1 for comparison). Gummy bears are excellent for this experiment because they are made out of sugar, water, and gelatine. Gelatine doesn’t dissolve in water, but it allows water to pass through so it functions as a semipermeable membrane.
• Prepare your solvents. Put pure water in one glass, water with a big spoon of salt into the second glass, and vinegar into the third glass. 1 deciliter of liquid in each glass will be more than enough. You can also experiment with different mixtures, like oil, milk, or soda to see what will happen.
• Put 1 gummy bear into each solution . Leave one gummy bear on the side so you can compare afterward. Leave the gummy bears inside their solutions for a few hours. Check every 3 hours to see the changes.

Results of the osmosis experiment

• After 9 hours, we observed that the gummy bear left in pure water got much bigger than in the other solutions. The water went in! There is just a little bit of water in the gummy bear, so there was big osmotic pressure.
• Gummy bear in salted water got just a little bit bigger . Osmosis at work! Salted water had a lower concentration of water than the pure one, so in this situation, less water went into the gummy bear.
• In vinegar, the gummy bear got bigger , but it also started to fall apart, and that’s because of the acid in vinegar which can dissolve the gelatine.

What kind of solutions did you use and what are the results? Tell us all about your experiment in the comments!

What will you develop and learn?

• Knowledge from chemistry and biology . Osmosis, semipermeable membrane, solutions, etc., all play a big role in the functioning of living organisms. Talking about them will help us in better understanding what is happening on the cell level.
• What is osmosis and how does it work. Without osmosis, there would not be life. So understanding osmosis is important to understand biology.
• Scientific method and conducting experiments. Here, we conducted a scientific experiment with 3 experimental variables (water, salted water, vinegar) and a control variable (gummy bear that we didn’t put into any solution). This enabled us to control every aspect that could influence the outcome of the experiment.
• Learning by doing . We best learn through experience, and here, we conduct our own experiments. So new knowledge while having fun is guaranteed!

We hope you too were enjoying this experiment. If you are in the mood for more great activities, we have some to recommend.

• If you are interested in learning about defusion, a similar process to osmosis, then you can check How to demonstrate diffusion with hot and cold water article.
• We also recommend learning about oxidation and how oxygen reacts with electrons in the Apple oxidation experiment .
• If you are interested in making your own sweet candy, you can learn How to make homemade sugar crystals (Rock Candy) .
• And finally, if you are interested in learning about polarity, the chemical property of atoms, you can learn about it in a simple but fun Colorful milk polarity experiment .

Happy experimenting!

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Osmosis Experiment for Kids: Blood Cell Membrane with an Egg

Categories STEM Activities

If you are currently researching elementary school science fair projects , you’ll want to add the osmosis experiment for kids to your list!

The best part about this science experiment is that you can do it at home with items you already have in the house.

It also works well in a classroom environment to teach kids about cell membranes, osmosis, and the parts of an egg!

The inspiration behind this osmosis experiment is a mix between the classic naked egg experiment and a demonstration of a cell membrane lab.

Cell Membrane Experiment with an Egg: Osmosis Experiment for Kids

This twist on the classic naked egg science experiment illustrates the concept of osmosis in a fun and surprising way for kids. Osmosis for kids has never been easier to explain.

Add a few variables and you’re ready to have an easy science fair project without stress.

How to Explain Osmosis to a Child

Keep reading to learn the osmosis egg experiment explanation.

The inside membrane of an egg is a semi-permeable membrane. The inside of the egg has a lower water concentration than the container, so over time, the membrane of the egg allows water to seep into the egg.

This makes the egg much bigger. The membrane is made partially of  keratin protein, which is also found in human hair.

At first, children will likely think that the egg’s membrane is solid, but the soaking the egg in the red water will show that the membrane is semi-permeable, but strong enough to hold the water once it is removed from the container.

Monkey hypothesized that the molecules of the yolk were “full” and could not accept any additional chemical bonds which prevented the water from entering the yolk.

Thanks to a reader, we now know that the proteins in the yolk are impermeable, so the dye cannot get through! So Monkey was close.

How to Turn the Osmosis Experiment into a Science Fair Project

The difference between a science demonstration and a science experiment is a hypothesis, variables, and testing.

For this osmosis experiment, kids could answer questions like:

What material dissolves eggshell the fastest?

Do all eggs have a semipermeable membrane?

Are there materials that will make an eggshell stronger instead of weaker?

Is there a way to prevent the osmosis process from happening?

Is it possible to pull the liquid back out onto the outside of the membrane?

Answering these questions with variables and testing and recording the data will make this a super easy osmosis addition to classic science fair projects .

Red Blood Cell Osmosis Activity Supplies

• Red food coloring
• Large glass container

What You Need for a Science Fair

You’ll want to have these supplies on hand before doing your science fair project. Shop the included Amazon storefronts to make things easier and don’t forget to download the free science fair planning checklist before getting started!

Science Fair Project Planning

When you’re planning your project, you want to keep everything organized. Click the image below to get my free science fair project checklist so you can start organizing your project from the start.

You may also want to check out this list of science fair project research supplies.

Supplies for a Science Fair Project

There are so many supplies for science fair projects that are individual to each project, but if you want a general list of possible supplies and inspiration for your project, check out my selection of science fair experiment supplies on Amazon.

Supplies for a Science Fair Presentation

Your science fair presentation is important! It should look presentable and eye-catching. Check out this list of my favorite science fair presentation supplies.

Osmosis Science Fair Project Directions

Follow along with these directions to make your own osmosis science demonstration using an egg!

This part of the experiment follows the basic instructions for the naked egg science experiment. First, soak your raw egg in about 2 cups of vinegar for about 24 to 48 hours.

The vinegar will dissolve the egg shell because the acid reacts with calcium carbonate that makes up an egg’s shell.

This produces carbon dioxide, calcium, and water. When the surface of the vinegar is scummy and bubbly, you are ready to start phase two.

Fill a large container about halfway full with water. Add red food coloring to turn the water red. Carefully move your naked egg into the red water. Let the egg sit for about 24 hours.

Phase Three

Remove the egg from the water. It should now be a bright red, but completely egg shaped.

If you dry the egg with a paper towel, you can see that it is completely dry and will not leak.

How does this work? It is all about osmosis!

Popping the egg will reveal that the inside white of the egg has turned red, but the yolk has remained orange.

Although the membrane surrounding the egg yolk and white can soak up water, the yolk itself does not.

More Science Fair Project Ideas

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Osmosis Potato Experiment: DIY Science Project Ideas for Kids

Finished with your lesson on Osmosis but still confused? Then you need to perform this simple Osmosis experiment. All you need are some potato slices and water. Learn about osmosis with potato slices in this simple osmosis potato experiment. Performing science experiments for kids will enable them to understand challenging scientific concept they are learning in a much better way.

Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Perform Osmosis Potato Experiment

Osmosis is the process by which water or any other solvent moves towards a solution with a higher concentration through a semipermeable membrane. The molecules in the solution with a lower concentration move towards the solution with a higher concentration to equalize the concentration on both sides. Osmosis is how plants absorb water and nutrients from the soil.

A simple science experiment for kids like the Osmosis Potato Experiment helps kids understand the concept easily.

What You’ll Need?

If you leave cut slices of potatoes or apples or pears outside for a while, you’ll notice that they turn brown. Why do you think this discoloration occurs? When you cut these fruits or vegetables, it leaves the cells open. An enzyme present in the cells, polyphenol oxidase, reacts with the oxygen in the air and turns the fruit brown. But can you prevent the slices from turning brown and keep them fresher for longer? Let’s learn through this osmosis potato experiment.

Here is a list of things you’ll need to perform the experiment:

• 1 medium sized potato
• 2 – 4 tablespoons of salt
• Distilled water
• 2 medium sized mason jars or drinking glasses

How to Perform Osmosis Potato Experiment?

Follow these instructions to perform the experiment:

• Step 1: Peel and cut the potatoes so you have wedges that are neither too thick nor too thin. Ensure that the potato wedges are roughly the same size. Note down the color of the freshly cut potato wedges and how they feel when you touch them.
• Step 2: Pour 200ml of distilled water into one glass or jar. 
• Step 3: Into the second glass, pour 200ml of distilled water and add 2-4 tablespoons of salt. Stir it well until the salt is completely dissolved.
• Step 4: Add two potato wedges into each of the glasses and let them sit overnight.
• Step 5: The next day, you’ll notice a difference in both the glasses. The potato wedges in the glass with the unsalted water have become bigger, while the wedges in the salted water have shrunk slightly.
• Step 6: Take the potato wedges out of the unsalted water and try bending them. You’ll notice that it is firm and breaks but doesn’t bend. Additionally, it still has a white color like a freshly cut piece of potato.
• Step 7: Now take the potato wedges out of the salted solution and try to bend them. You’ll notice the wedges have turned brown and bend easily without breaking.

What You’ll See?

Once you’ve performed the experiment, help your child understand the science behind the osmosis experiment. Here are a few questions and answers that will help children understand the behavior of the potato wedges in the two different solutions.

• Why did the potato wedges in the glass with plain distilled water become bigger?

The potato wedges expand and become bigger because of osmosis. Potatoes are made of millions of cells and the cell walls act as a semipermeable membrane. The water molecules move into the potato through this membrane to balance the concentration levels. The water moving inside the potato cells causes it to expand and become bigger. 

• Why did the potato wedges in the glass with salt water shrink?

Again it’s because of osmosis. The salt solution has a higher concentration and the water inside the potato moves through the cell walls to balance the concentration in the saltwater. Since the water moves out of the potato wedge, it shrinks and becomes smaller. This is also the reason why the potato wedge in the salt solution becomes less rigid and bends easily.

• Why did the potato wedges in the salt solution change color?

The water moving out of the potato damages it’s cells, which causes them to release an enzyme called catechol oxidase. The enzyme in the potato cells reacts with the oxygen in the air and turns the wedges brown.

Other Way to Perform Osmosis Potato Experiment for Kids

Another cool way to see osmosis in action is to perform this experiment using grapes and raisins.

• 2 – 3 raisins
• 2 – 3 fresh grapes
• 3 – 4 tablespoons of sugar

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Perform Osmosis Potato Experiment

Follow these instructions to perform this experiment:

• Step 1: Add the 3 – 4 tablespoons of sugar into one glass of water and stir it until all the sugar is dissolved. Then add 2 -3 fresh grapes into the sugar solution.
• Step 2: Add 2 – 3 raisins to the second glass of water. Allow both glasses to sit for a few hours.
• Step 3: After a few hours, you’ll notice that the raisins in the plain water have plumped up almost as if they are grapes. The raisins have a higher concentration of sugar, so the water moves into the raisins to balance the amount of sugar. This causes the raisins to expand and plump up.
• Step 4: Meanwhile the grapes in the sugar solution have shrunk and almost look like raisins. The water surrounding the grapes has a higher concentration of sugar than water in the grape cells. So the water in the grape cells moves out to balance the level of sugar. This causes the grapes to shrink in size.

Can you use other vegetables or fruits to perform this experiment? Will sliced bananas or pineapples work the same way? The only way to know is to try. Looking for more cool science experiments to try with your kids? Check our kids learning section for more fun and informative science experiments.

Frequently Asked Questions on Osmosis Potato Experiment

What is osmosis.

Osmosis is the process by which a solution with a lower concentration moves towards a solution with a higher concentration through a semipermeable membrane to balance the levels of concentration.

Why does the potato in the salt solution shrink?

Potato cells also have water in them. The water in the potato tries to equalize the concentration by moving towards the saltwater. The loss of water causes the potato to shrink and also makes it bendy and less firm.

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Gummy Bear Science | Exploring Osmosis with Preschoolers

Gummy bears are a super fun, yummy treat. Do your kids love them as much as mine do? Since I’ll take just about any excuse to indulge in this candy, I pulled together a tasty gummy bear science activity inspired by this week’s Early Childhood Education team theme of teddy bears.

Don’t be fooled, though… While I wrote this activity and created a free downloadable science journal for your gifted preschoolers (and mine), this is great science for your littlest ones as well as your biggest ones. You can take it all the way to osmosis – water transferring through a membrane (like a cell wall) to a place with lower concentrations of water molecules – or just stick with the basic observations – the gummy bear got bigger.

Getting Ready for Gummy Bear Science

Download the file that contains the printable journal below by entering your email address — once you confirm, it will be emailed stright to your inbox. Cut out each page, fold the spreads in half along the solid middle line, and tuck the blue ends into the journal cover. Staple it together, and you’re set with a pocket-sized science journal that takes your kiddo through the scientific method.

Download your FREE Gummy Bear Science Journal Here: [wp_eStore_free_download_squeeze_form id=9]

Grab your supplies:

• Three gummy bears (try giving your child all the same color)
• Two clear glass or plastic cups, one filled halfway with water
• Printable Journal (below)
• A tray where the cups can sit undisturbed for a few days

Exploring Gummy Bear Science

If you decide not to use the journal, just have your kiddo use his or her science notebook or a piece of paper.

Follow these steps:

Give your child one of the gummy bears. Ask him to observe it thoroughly using all of his senses – touch, smell, hearing, sight, and finally taste. Tell him to draw or write about his observations.

Have him drop one of the gummy bears into the empty cup. This is the control gummy bear. Explain that the control is the bear that shows what he started with. He’ll use that to compare, and conclude what happened to the other gummy bear at the end of the experiment.

Before dropping the third gummy bear into the cup with water, ask your child to write or draw out his hypothesis on paper or in the space provided in the journal. A hypothesis is a guess that makes sense – help your kiddo remember what other things have done when they’ve been placed in water. Logan decided that it would “break into pieces” because other food items she’s put into water have dissolved in the past.

Finally, have your child place a gummy bear in each cup – one with water and one without – and draw or write his observations. Then put it up high for a few hours.

Have your kiddo pull it back out and check it after two hours, and then again after 24 hours, drawing his observations in his journal.

Explaining the Gummy Bear Science

So, what happened? Depending on your kiddo, you can go as in depth as you want. My little one is precocious , and so we share the big words. She has a basic understanding of how plants absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Osmosis.

We talked about how the water moved from the glass into the gummy bear through the outer “membrane” of the bear. The bear grew, instead of dissolving because the water molecules moved into it, swelling it up. We’re leaving our gummy bear for a few more days, and keeping the control bear so we can compare the before and after again.

What do you think? Would your kiddos like to explore some gummy bear science this week? Don’t forget to download your free printable gummy bear science journal – there are extra activity and experiment suggestions at the end in case your child is like mine, and can’t get enough hands-on science.

More from the ECE Team:

Before you go, check out some of the other super fun preschool learning activities for kids – all featuring a teddy bear theme – from the other amazing educators and bloggers on the ECE (Early Childhood Education) Team. The collective wisdom and creativity is stunning, and you’ll be able to plan a fantastic themed unit each week by visiting everyone on Wednesdays. My role is providing great higher-level thinking activities for your gifted preschoolers, but remember asynchrony ? Your gifted preschoolers are still that – preschoolers. Little ones enjoy play-based learning AND stretching their thinking, so pull the resources together for fun and learning at home.

• Teddy Bear Beginning Sounds Picnic by Growing Book by Book
• Feed the Bear Alphabet Activity by Mom Inspired Life
• Teddy Bear Alphabet Activities by Tiny Tots Adventures
• Bear Counters Name Recognition Activity by Munchkins and Moms
• The Dissolving Teddy Bears: Simple Preschool Science! by The Preschool Toolbox Blog
• Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Let’s Add to Ten-Kinder and Pre-K Math activity by Capri + 3
• Printable Bear Math Patterns for Preschoolers by Fun-A-Day
• Teddy Bear Preschool Theme Counting Activities by Learning 2 Walk
• Teddy Bear Writing Activity for Kids with FREE Printable by The Educators’ Spin On It

The Invisible Flow: Explaining Osmosis in Kid-Friendly Terms!

March 5, 2024 | Biology | 0 comments

Imagine you are at the beach, standing ankle-deep in the cool, refreshing water. As you feel the gentle waves wash over your feet, you can’t help but wonder: What makes the water move? How does it spread and find its way through the sand?

Well, my young curious minds, the answer lies in a fascinating concept called osmosis. While it may sound like a big, complicated word, osmosis is actually a simple and invisible force that governs the movement of water in our world.

In this article, we will embark on a journey to unravel the secrets of osmosis together. We will explore its definition, understand how it works, and even conduct a fun experiment to see it in action. By the end, you will be able to explain osmosis to anyone, even a child!

So, come along as we dive into the invisible flow and uncover the wonders of osmosis!

Key Takeaways:

• Through osmosis, water moves from areas of low concentration to areas of high concentration through a semi-permeable membrane.
• Osmosis can be compared to the water’s attempt to dilute nearby particles, with a barrier preventing the movement of those particles.
• Osmosis and diffusion are distinct processes, with osmosis involving the movement of water and diffusion involving the movement of particles.
• Conducting an osmosis experiment using eggs and different fluids can help children observe and understand osmosis.
• Osmosis is not only relevant to the human body but also occurs in everyday examples such as the working of the kidneys and the process of salting vegetables.

Table of Contents

What is Osmosis?

Osmosis is a fascinating process that helps us understand how water moves through living organisms. It involves the movement of water molecules from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration, through a semi-permeable membrane. But what does that mean exactly?

Let’s imagine a scenario: You have a glass of water with a little bit of sugar dissolved in it. Nearby, there’s another glass with pure water. If you were to pour the pure water into the glass with the sugar water, what do you think would happen?

“The water molecules from the pure water would flow through the semipermeable membrane of the sugar water, trying to dilute the sugar and reach a balanced concentration.”

That’s osmosis in action! The water molecules will pass through the semipermeable membrane, which allows only certain molecules to pass through, while keeping bigger particles like sugar trapped. As the water molecules move to an area of higher concentration, they dilute the surrounding particles, in this case, the sugar. Osmosis is nature’s way of equalizing concentrations and achieving balance.

This process is not only important for understanding how water moves through cells, but it’s also relevant in various biological systems. It helps plants absorb water from the soil, allows our body’s cells to maintain proper hydration, and even plays a role in the functioning of our kidneys.

Now that you have a basic understanding of osmosis, let’s dive deeper into the differences between osmosis and diffusion in the next section.

Osmosis vs Diffusion

Osmosis and diffusion are often confused, but they are distinct processes. Understanding their differences is essential to grasping the concept of osmosis in simple terms.

Osmosis is the movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane. It occurs from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration. Imagine water trying to dilute whatever is nearby, with a barrier preventing the movement of particles being diluted. This barrier is the semi-permeable membrane. Osmosis involves the water trying to equalize the concentrations of solutes by moving from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower concentration through the semi-permeable membrane.

In contrast, diffusion is the movement of particles, such as molecules or ions, from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. Diffusion doesn’t require a semi-permeable membrane like osmosis does. It occurs in gases, liquids, and solids due to the constant motion of particles. Diffusion plays a crucial role in the movement of various substances into and out of cells.

“Osmosis involves the movement of water, while diffusion involves the movement of particles.”

Comparing Osmosis and Diffusion:

By understanding the distinctions between osmosis and diffusion, you can now explain the concept of osmosis to kids in simple terms. Osmosis involves the movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane, while diffusion refers to the movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Osmosis Experiment

An osmosis experiment can be a fun and engaging way to teach children about this fascinating scientific process. By conducting hands-on experiments, children can observe the effects of osmosis and gain a better understanding of how it works. One effective experiment involves the use of eggs and different fluids to demonstrate osmosis in action.

To conduct the osmosis experiment, you will need:

• Fluids (hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic solutions)

Here’s how you can set up the experiment:

• Carefully place the eggs in separate containers.
• Add different fluids to each container, ensuring you have hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic solutions. These solutions can be created by dissolving appropriate amounts of salt and sugar in water.
• Observe the eggs over a period of time, noting any changes in their appearance.
• Record your observations and discuss the results with your child.

By observing the effects of osmosis on the eggs, children can see first-hand how water moves across a semi-permeable membrane and affects different substances. They can observe changes in the size, texture, and appearance of the eggs, gaining a deeper understanding of osmosis in the process.

Osmosis Experiment Results

This experiment allows children to visualize osmosis in action and understand how it impacts different substances. It provides a hands-on learning experience that makes the concept of osmosis more accessible and relatable.

Through this osmosis experiment, children can see how water moves across membranes and affects substances. This hands-on approach enhances their understanding of osmosis, making it a memorable learning experience.

How to Do Your Own Osmosis Experiment at Home

Teaching osmosis to children can be made easy and engaging through hands-on experiments. By conducting an osmosis experiment at home, kids can observe the process in action and gain a deeper understanding of this important biological concept.

To start your own osmosis experiment, you will need a few supplies:

• White vinegar
• Testing fluids (isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic solutions)

Here’s how to conduct the experiment:

• Begin by dissolving the eggshells in white vinegar. This will create a shell-less egg with a semi-permeable membrane.
• Label the containers with the different testing fluids: isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic.
• Place one egg in each container, ensuring they are fully submerged in the testing fluid.
• Allow the eggs to sit in the containers for a designated period of time.
• After the designated time, carefully remove the eggs from the containers and examine the results.

Through this experiment, children will be able to observe the effects of osmosis on the eggs. They can compare the size, texture, and appearance of the eggs in different testing fluids, providing a visual representation of osmosis in action.

This hands-on approach to teaching osmosis to children allows them to actively participate in the learning process, promoting curiosity and understanding. Plus, it’s a fun and interactive way to explore science at home!

By conducting their own osmosis experiment, kids can develop a deeper appreciation for the biological processes that occur within living organisms and gain a solid foundation in scientific knowledge.

Osmosis Examples

Osmosis is not only relevant to the human body but also occurs in various examples. These everyday examples help children understand the concept of osmosis in different contexts.

1. Kidneys: The kidneys use osmosis to filter waste products and excess water from the blood, ensuring the body maintains the right balance of water and solutes.

2. Salt on Slugs: When salt is sprinkled on slugs, it causes water to move out of their cells through osmosis, leading to dehydration and reducing their movement.

3. Pruned Fingers: After soaking in water for a long time, such as during a bath or swimming, fingers become pruned and wrinkly. This is the result of water moving into the outer layers of the skin through osmosis.

4. Salting Vegetables: When vegetables are sprinkled with salt, osmosis occurs, drawing water out of the cells of the vegetables. This process helps remove excess moisture and enhances flavor and texture.

5. Movement of Water in Hypernatremia: In the condition of hypernatremia, where there is an imbalance of sodium levels in the body, osmosis helps to regulate the movement of water to maintain homeostasis.

To visually represent these examples, refer to the table below:

Through these examples, children can easily grasp the concept of osmosis and understand its significance in various everyday scenarios.

Transport Across Membranes

The transport of substances across cell membranes is essential for the functioning of cells and maintaining homeostasis. In this section, we will explore two types of transport: passive transport and active transport.

Passive Transport:

Passive transport refers to processes that do not require energy. It allows substances to move across the cell membrane without the expenditure of additional energy. Some examples of passive transport include diffusion, osmosis, and facilitated diffusion.

“Diffusion is the net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. It occurs in gases, liquids, and solids due to the constant motion of molecules.”

“Osmosis is a specific type of diffusion that involves the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane. It occurs from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration in an attempt to equalize the concentrations of solutes.”

“Facilitated diffusion is a type of passive transport that helps larger or charged molecules move across cell membranes. It involves the use of proteins called channel proteins and carrier proteins.”

Active Transport:

Active transport, in contrast, requires the expenditure of energy to move substances across the cell membrane. This energy is typically derived from ATP, the primary energy currency of cells. Active transport plays a crucial role in processes like nutrient uptake and waste removal.

Diffusion is a fundamental process that occurs in gases, liquids, and solids due to the constant motion of molecules. It involves the net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In simpler terms, it’s like the spreading out of particles to fill the available space.

When it comes to cells, diffusion plays a crucial role in the movement of substances into and out of them. Small, uncharged molecules and gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, can easily diffuse through cell membranes. This allows for the exchange of essential substances between cells and their environment.

Diffusion is important for maintaining balance within cells and the overall functioning of the body. For example, oxygen diffuses into cells, where it is used in cellular respiration to produce energy. On the other hand, carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular respiration, diffuses out of cells and is eliminated from the body.

Diffusion Example: Gas Exchange in the Lungs

“The alveoli in the lungs are tiny air sacs where oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide is expelled. During inhalation, oxygen-rich air enters the lungs, and the concentration of oxygen molecules in the alveoli is higher than that in the bloodstream. This concentration difference drives diffusion, causing oxygen to move from the alveoli into the bloodstream. At the same time, carbon dioxide, which is more concentrated in the bloodstream, diffuses from the blood into the alveoli, ready to be exhaled.”

Diffusion vs. Osmosis

Understanding diffusion is key to comprehending how substances move within cells and the body. It’s a natural process that ensures the equilibrium and proper functioning of various biological systems.

Osmosis is a specific type of diffusion that involves the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane. It occurs from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration in an attempt to equalize the concentrations of solutes.

Osmosis plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of water and solutes in cells and organisms. It is a fundamental process that helps ensure the proper functioning of living systems.

Understanding osmosis is important for children as it helps them comprehend how substances move in and out of cells. By teaching osmosis to children in a way that is engaging and relatable, they can grasp this concept more easily.

“Osmosis: The movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane, from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration.”

Explaining osmosis to children can be approached through simple examples and hands-on activities. By visualizing the movement of water and observing the effects of osmosis, children can develop a deeper understanding of this important biological process.

Benefits of Teaching Osmosis to Children

• Enhances their scientific knowledge and curiosity
• Promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Encourages hands-on learning and experimentation
• Builds a foundation for further scientific concepts

By introducing osmosis to children, we empower them to explore the wonders of the natural world and develop a lifelong love for learning.

Teaching osmosis to children unlocks a world of discovery and nurtures their scientific curiosity. Through interactive learning experiences, they can grasp the wonders of osmosis and its significance in the functioning of living organisms.

Facilitated Diffusion

In addition to osmosis and diffusion, another important process that helps substances move across cell membranes is facilitated diffusion. This type of passive transport enables larger or charged molecules to pass through the membrane with the help of specialized proteins known as channel proteins and carrier proteins.

Channel proteins: These proteins form small pores or channels in the membrane, creating a pathway for water molecules and small ions to move through. The channels allow these substances to bypass the lipid bilayer of the membrane, which would otherwise restrict their movement.

Carrier proteins: On the other hand, carrier proteins bind to specific molecules, causing a change in their shape. This change allows the carrier proteins to shuttle the molecules across the membrane from one side to the other. Carrier proteins provide a means for larger or charged molecules to cross the lipid bilayer.

Both channel proteins and carrier proteins facilitate the movement of substances across the membrane by providing pathways or transporting molecules selectively. This process occurs passively, meaning it does not require energy input from the cell.

To summarize, facilitated diffusion is a type of passive transport that utilizes channel proteins and carrier proteins to aid the movement of larger or charged molecules across cell membranes.

Osmosis is a fascinating biological process that plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of substances within cells and organisms. Teaching osmosis to children can help them understand how water moves across membranes and how it affects the concentration of solutes. By explaining osmosis in kid-friendly terms and using relatable examples, children can grasp this complex concept and see its relevance in their everyday lives.

One effective way to teach osmosis to children is through hands-on experiments. By conducting simple experiments using eggs and different fluids, children can observe the effects of osmosis firsthand. This interactive approach allows children to visualize how water moves through a semi-permeable membrane, helping them solidify their understanding of osmosis.

By explaining osmosis to children, we lay the foundation for their scientific exploration and learning. Understanding osmosis opens the doors to a deeper understanding of biology and the fascinating processes that occur within our bodies. So, the next time you’re asked, “What is osmosis?” or “How does osmosis work?”, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and tools to explain this fundamental concept to a child in a way that sparks their curiosity and promotes their scientific understanding.

What is osmosis?

Osmosis is the movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane, from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration. It can be compared to the water trying to dilute whatever is nearby, with a barrier (the semi-permeable membrane) preventing the movement of particles being diluted.

How is osmosis different from diffusion?

Osmosis is the movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane, while diffusion is the movement of particles. Osmosis involves the water trying to dilute nearby particles, while diffusion does not necessarily require a semi-permeable membrane.

How can I help my child understand osmosis?

Conducting an osmosis experiment can be a fun and educational way to help your child understand osmosis. One example is an egg experiment using different fluids to see the effects of osmosis.

How can I do an osmosis experiment at home?

To do an osmosis experiment at home, you will need eggs, containers, white vinegar, testing fluids (isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic solutions), and a towel. The experiment involves dissolving the eggshells, applying the different fluids to each egg, and evaluating the results.

Can you give some examples of osmosis in everyday life?

Osmosis is not only relevant to the human body but also occurs in various examples. Some examples include the working of the kidneys, the effect of salt on slugs, the pruned and wrinkly fingers after soaking in water, the process of salting vegetables, and the movement of water to maintain homeostasis in hypernatremia.

What is the difference between passive transport and active transport?

Passive transport includes processes like diffusion, osmosis, and facilitated diffusion, which do not require energy. Active transport involves the use of energy to move substances across the membrane.

What is diffusion?

Diffusion is the net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. It occurs in gases, liquids, and solids due to the constant motion of molecules. Diffusion helps maintain balance within cells and the body.

How does osmosis work?

Osmosis is the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration in an attempt to equalize the concentrations of solutes. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of water and solutes in cells and organisms.

What is facilitated diffusion?

Facilitated diffusion is a type of passive transport that helps larger or charged molecules move across cell membranes. It involves the use of proteins called channel proteins and carrier proteins to facilitate the transportation of molecules across the membrane.

How can I explain osmosis to a child?

Explaining osmosis to a child can be done through simple terms and relatable examples. You can use the concept of water trying to dilute nearby substances with a barrier in between to help them understand osmosis.

Source Links

• https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/05:_Cells/5.07:_Cell_Transport
• https://www.yournursingtutor.com/osmosis-experiment/
• https://biologyclermont.info/wwwroot/courses/lab1/osmosis intro.htm

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Osmosis and Shrinking Eggs!

August 29, 2011 By Emma Vanstone 15 Comments

Welcome to a very eggy week on Science Sparks! Shrinking eggs is the first of 3 egg based experiments, so if you like this one, pop back later in the week to see what else we have been up to! This experiment looks at osmosis .

Osmosis is the net movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from a region of higher water concentration to a region of lower water concentration.

Water molecules flow from one side of a membrane to the other until the concentration of water molecules on both sides is equal.

What you need:

• Two glasses

This experiment has 3 stages:

Remove the shell from the egg with vinegar

Shrink the egg by placing it into a concentrated sugar solution

Grow the egg by placing it in water.

Remove the shell from an egg

We need to remove the shell to expose the semi-permeable membrane of the egg. This can be done by placing the eggs in a cup of vinegar, so they are totally covered for about 24 hours. After this time wash the egg rubbing away the remaining bits of the shell.

Shrink and grow the egg

Make up a concentrated sugar solution by dissolving sugar in water. Place one egg in a glass of water, and the other in the sugar solution. Our sugar solution looks quite dark as I used brown sugar. Note how the egg in the water sinks to the bottom of the glass while the one in the sugar solution floats. This is because the sugar solution is denser than the water.

• Leave for another 24 hours. You can see the egg in the sugar solution looks much smaller than the one in the water.

Prick the egg from the water with a fine needle and watch a jet of water shoot out!

• Put the shrunken egg in water and watch it grow as it reabsorbs the water, this might take a few hours.

Why does the egg shrink and grow?

The sugar solution is much more concentrated than the water, this is because it contains dissolved molecules of sugar. The dissolved sugar molecules cannot pass through the semi-permeable membrane of the egg, but the small water molecules can. The water moves from the less concentrated egg solution to the more concentrated sugar solution until the concentration of water is the same on both sides. Therefore water moves from the egg to the sugar solution, and the egg shrinks.

When the shrunken egg is placed back in water, the concentration of water inside the egg is lower than the water, so water moves from the water to the egg, making the egg increase in size.

When we pricked the egg that had been in the water, water shot out of the egg. This is because the egg has absorbed water, and so the inside of the egg is under more pressure than usual.

The egg shell dissolves in the vinegar as the acetic acid in the vinegar reacts with the calcium carbonate of the shell. Carbon dioxide is given off during this reaction so you should see bubbles of gas escaping.

Extension Tasks

Weigh the eggs after removing the shell, after they shrink and again after they reabsorb water to see how much water is lost and gained at each stage.

Try adding food colouring to the water and watch as the eggs absorb the coloured water.

Soak a boiled egg in vinegar, this should make the egg so rubbery it will bounce ( from a low height ). You can also bounce a non-boiled egg that has been soaked in vinegar.

Don’t forget to wash your hands after handling raw eggs!

Last Updated on January 18, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

August 29, 2011 at 6:31 pm

this looks great….I won’t promise to do it as I still have 2 avocado stones on my kitchen table!

August 30, 2011 at 12:41 pm

Do it!!! xx

September 05, 2011 at 2:31 pm

How interesting. Thanks for linking up and sharing this idea on my site.

Sharing a link over on Facebook.

January 25, 2012 at 3:59 pm

Do you use hard boiled eggs? How does the egg not break when removing the shell? Does the vinegar cook it? Thanks

January 25, 2012 at 9:24 pm

The egg is not cooked inside, it is liquid, the vinegar removes the shell, but leaves the outer membrane which keeps the egg in tact.

April 14, 2012 at 7:46 pm

What age is this appropriate for?

April 15, 2012 at 1:39 pm

My children were 3 and 4 at the time, I did everything for them, but they were very interested in it.

June 19, 2012 at 3:00 am

Oh wow! What a neat experiment! Thank so much for sharing with Tuesday Tots. Pinned 🙂

November 28, 2012 at 7:31 pm

This looks really cool! How much sugar did you use for the solution ?

March 19, 2013 at 5:06 pm

These all look like fun! My 11 yod and I were just wondering how long do you soak the hardboiled egg in vinegar to be able to make it rubbery and able to bounce?

March 20, 2013 at 2:12 pm

It usually takes a couple of days and you’ll need to wash away the shell remnants.

March 09, 2015 at 9:49 am

Sorry but I’m a biology student yr11, osmosis is actually the diffusion of water from a high concentrated region to a low concentrated region. I’m sure you made a mistake because my textbooks and what I’m being taught all the opposite of what is in your statement. Correct me if im wrong, I did this experiment last week and I’m writing a lab report and needed some more explanation from the internet. Sorry, wouldn’t want other people getting confused.

July 20, 2017 at 8:18 am

hi Dear. where in the text did you find the wrong statement opposite to the osmosis law, i.e., water diffusion from high to low concentration? maybe by the term concentration which was only used for the sugary liquid and it meant -i think- the concentration of big sugar molecules, if it is high then the water is low and if they are low, then the water is high. so you’d actually need to reverse the low/high adjectives to define how much water you have, if you were reading that part about the sugary liquid So i guess whenever you see the term concentration, just imagine they ar talking about the sugary liquid and not the water (pure water)

July 20, 2017 at 8:20 am

hi Dear. where in the text did you find the wrong statement opposite to the osmosis law, i.e., water diffusion from high to low amount? pls notice: amount and not concentration. The term concentration is only used in the sentences regarding the sugary liquid here and not the pure water maybe by the term concentration which was only used for the sugary liquid and it meant -i think- the concentration of big sugar molecules, if it is high then the water is low and if they are low, then the water is high. so you’d actually need to reverse the low/high adjectives to define how much water you have, if you were reading that part about the sugary liquid So i guess whenever you see the term concentration, just imagine they ar talking about the sugary liquid and not the water (pure water)

May 02, 2017 at 2:37 am

very fun and love you guys

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What Is Osmosis

What is osmosis for kids? Osmosis can be a tricky concept for kids to get their heads around. But here we have a simple osmosis definition and fun, hands-on osmosis science experiments kids will love! Watch gummy bears grow, experiment with potatoes, eggs and more. Easy science experiments for kids of all ages!

Osmosis Defined For Kids

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of higher molecular concentration to a region of lower molecular concentration.

💡 A semi-permeable membrane is a barrier that allows some substances, like water, to pass through but not others.

Why Is Osmosis Important?

Osmosis is important because it helps regulate the balance of water and other substances in living things.

For example, osmosis helps maintain the right balance of water and other substances like salts and sugars in our cells. Without the process of osmosis, cells would not survive.

💡 Learn more about the structure of plant cells and animals cells .

Osmosis can also be seen in other everyday examples, such as when a plant absorbs water from the soil through its roots. The water moves from the soil, with a high water concentration, to the cells in the roots, with a low water concentration. Plants absorb mineral ions from the soil by active transport against a concentration gradient.

If the water concentration is the same on both sides of a semi-permeable membrane, osmosis will not occur. This is called a state of equilibrium or balance.

List Of Osmosis Experiments

Below are examples of osmosis experiments. These science experiments are quick to set up and easy to do at home or in the classroom.

Gummy Bear Experiment

Learn about the process of osmosis when you try this easy gummy bear osmosis experiment. Watch your gummy bears grow as you investigate which liquid makes them grow the biggest.

Candy Fish Experiment

Similar to our gummy bear experiment above, this time using candy fish. Investigate what happens when you add the gelatinous candy to a variety of liquids.

Egg Experiment

Here is a fun egg experiment that shows osmosis. First, you will need to dissolve the shell of a raw egg. See our naked egg experiment for how to do that. The egg membrane that remains is a good example of a semi-permeable membrane.

Dry and weigh your egg before placing it in a concentrated salt solution. Leave for at least 24 hours. Then dry and weigh your egg again. Use several shell-less eggs to compare different concentrations of salt solution.

Alternatively, you could create a concentrated sugar solution to test with different amounts of corn syrup.

Potato Osmosis Lab

Explore what happens to potato when you put them in concentration of salt water and then pure water. It is all to do with osmosis! You could also try this experiment with a carrot!

Get Your Free Printable Osmosis Information Sheet!

Download this free osmosis information sheet and journal pages to start investigations with osmosis!

Osmosis v Diffusion

Diffusion is also a physical process by which molecules move from high to low concentrations. Molecules, especially gases and liquids, tend to spread out to occupy all available space. Like osmosis, diffusion is a form of passive transport.

Think of someone spraying a fragrance into the air on one side of a room. Before long, you can smell the fragrance molecules on the other side of the room, as the fragrance has diffused throughout the room.

The difference between osmosis and diffusion is that osmosis is water movement across a semi-permeable membrane. Osmosis and diffusion occur because of a concentration gradient, which is a substance’s concentration difference between two areas.

Turn It Into A Science Fair Project

Science projects are an excellent tool for older kiddos to show what they know about science! Plus, they can be used in various environments, including classrooms, homeschools, and groups.

Kids can take everything they have learned about using the scientific method , stating a hypothesis, choosing variables , and analyzing and presenting data.

Want to turn one of these osmosis experiments into an awesome science fair project? Check out these helpful resources.

• Science Project Tips From A Teacher
• Science Fair Board Ideas
• Easy Science Fair Projects

Helpful Science Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Science Vocabulary
• All About Scientists
• Free Science Worksheets
• DIY Science Kits
• Science Tools for Kids
• Scientific Method for Kids
• Citizen Science Guide
• Join us in the Club

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Osmosis Experiments With Potatoes for Kids

Video Description

Osmosis is the movement of water through membranes by diffusion. Scientists first observed and studied osmosis in the 1700s, but it is today a basic scientific concept learned at school. Through this phenomenon, animals, plants and other living beings can keep their cells hydrated. Simple experiments using potatoes can help children to understand the concept of osmosis and its importance for cell maintenance and survival.

Blackcurrant Squash

Cut four potato slices, dry them with a paper towel and weigh them. Prepare four solutions of different concentrations using black-currant or other concentrated fruit drink and water. Place one potato slice in each solution; leave for at least 15 minutes. Remove the potato slices from the solutions, dry with a paper towel and weigh them again. Compare the weights of potato slices from different solutions. Also observe the relation between the concentration of the solution and the firmness of the potato slices.

Salt and Sugar Solutions

Prepare two concentrated solutions. Add 2 tbsp. salt to a cup of water and the same quantity of sugar in another cup of water. Cut three potato cylinders or slices. Weigh and measure them. Put one potato slice in the salt solution and other in the sugar solution. The third potato slice put in a cup with water. After 24 hours, remove the potato slices and dry, weigh and measure them. Compare results and write down a hypothesis to explain them.

Salt Solutions of Different Concentrations

Use two soup plates to prepare two salt solutions. Fill the plates with water. Add 1 tbsp. salt to one plate and 1 tsp. salt to the other. Cut two slices from a potato and place one in each plate. Leave them for about two to three hours. Remove the potato slices from the water and try to bend them. Compare the results.

Effects of Temperature

Observe the effect of osmosis in potato cells in solutions with different temperatures. Prepare two identical solutions with a cup of water and 2 tbsp. salt. Heat one of the solutions in the microwave for about 30 to 45 seconds, until it is warm. Cut out two slices from a potato and place each one of them in one solution. Leave for 10 minutes, take them out and compare the results.

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Osmosis for Kids: Understanding the Basics of This Essential Process

Osmosis is a fascinating and fundamental process that occurs all around us , from the cells in our bodies to the care of the plants in our gardens.

At its core, osmosis is the movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration.

This process helps regulate the environment of cells by controlling the flow of water in and out of them, making it essential to maintaining life.

In a more hands-on perspective, osmosis can be observed through simple experiments that can be conducted at home or in a classroom setting. By using everyday items like vegetables, fruits, or even gummy candies soaked in different solutions, kids can visually grasp how osmosis affects the size and texture of these items. These experiments not only demonstrate the principles of osmosis in a tangible way but also spark curiosity about the science behind the natural and biological world.

Key Takeaways

• Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a semi-permeable membrane driven by concentration differences.
• It is crucial for maintaining cell environments and various life processes.
• Simple experiments can illustrate osmosis in an engaging and educational manner.

Understanding Osmosis

In this section, readers will learn the fundamental concept of osmosis, its occurrences in nature, the role of different types of membranes, and the importance of the concentration gradient.

Defining Osmosis

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. This process equalizes concentrations on both sides of the membrane, crucial for maintaining cellular health.

Osmosis in Nature

Osmosis plays a vital role in nature, such as helping plants absorb water from the soil. Animal cells also rely on osmosis to regulate hydration and balance the concentration of minerals inside and outside the cell.

Types of Membranes

There are two main types of membranes involved in osmosis:

• Permeable membranes: allow all substances to pass through.
• Semipermeable membranes: allow only certain substances, like water, to pass through, while blocking others.

The semipermeable membrane is key to osmotic processes as it selectively allows the passage of solvent but not solute particles.

Understanding Concentration Gradient

The concentration gradient refers to the difference in concentration of a substance across a space or membrane . In osmosis, water molecules move along the concentration gradient until equilibrium is reached, demonstrating the balance-seeking nature of substances in biological systems.

The Role of Osmosis in Living Organisms

Osmosis is a vital process that regulates the movement of water into and out of cells, contributing to the balance of fluids in plants, humans, and animals. This section explores how osmosis functions within different living organisms.

Osmosis in Plants

Plants rely on osmosis primarily through their roots to absorb water from the soil. Root cells have a higher solute concentration than the surrounding soil, which creates a pressure difference. As a result, water moves from the soil, which has a lower solute concentration, into the plant’s root cells. Inside plant cells , osmosis contributes to turgor pressure, which is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity and shape of plants. When water enters a plant cell , it expands against the rigid cell wall, keeping the plant upright.

Osmosis in Human and Animal Cells

In humans and animals, osmosis has a key role in the distribution of nutrients and the removal of waste products. In particular, red blood cells use osmosis to regulate their water content. The cell membranes here act as semipermeable barriers allowing water to move in and out. When placed in a solution with different concentrations, animal cells either gain or lose water. For example, if a red blood cell is placed in distilled water, water will enter the cell due to osmosis, potentially causing it to burst. Conversely, in a high-solute concentration or hypertonic solution, water will leave the cell, which can lead to cell shrinkage. This balance of water across cell membranes is crucial to maintaining cell structure and function in both plant and animal cells.

Osmosis and Solvents

In the process of osmosis, solvents, like water, move through membranes. Understanding this motion is essential in grasping how substances like ions and nutrients are transported in living organisms.

How Solvents Work

Solvents are liquids that dissolve other substances, called solutes, without changing their chemical composition. In a typical scenario, salt dissolved in water illustrates how water acts as a solvent and the salt as the solute. The solute’s ions, such as sodium and chloride from salt, spread evenly throughout the solvent, creating a solution.

The Movement of Water

During osmosis, water , as a common solvent, moves across a semipermeable membrane from a region with a lower concentration of solutes to one with a higher concentration. This movement aims to equalize solute concentrations on both sides of the membrane, although the solutes themselves do not pass through the membrane. It’s crucial in maintaining cellular functions and balance within various environments, especially in biological contexts.

Osmotic Pressure and Equilibrium

In understanding how cells interact with their environment, two key concepts are essential: osmotic pressure and the state of equilibrium . Osmotic pressure propels the essential movement of water molecules, while equilibrium is the balance that the cells strive to maintain.

Exploring Osmotic Pressure

Osmotic pressure is the force exerted by the solvent molecules as they pass through a semipermeable membrane toward a higher concentration of solute. It’s a vital aspect of osmosis in cells. To visualize this, imagine a U-shaped tube with a membrane in the middle that allows only water to pass through. If one leg of the U has a solute , such as salt, dissolved in water, and the other leg has pure water, water will move towards the salt solution. This movement continues until the force exerted by the migrating water molecules, now termed osmotic pressure, is balanced by the force of the increased water level in the leg with the salt solution.

Driving Force : Water moves from an area with lower solute concentration to one with higher concentration.

Measurements : Osmotic pressure can be quantified, and it depends on the solute concentration.

Achieving Equilibrium in Osmosis

Equilibrium in osmosis is reached when there’s no net movement of water across the membrane. The water molecules still move, but the rate at which they enter one side of the membrane is equal to the rate at which they leave on the other. For the U-shaped tube example introduced earlier, equilibrium is achieved when the osmotic pressure equals the pressure caused by the difference in water levels, leading to an equal exchange of water molecules across the membrane.

Balanced State : Equilibrium is the point where no further change in water levels is observed.

Dynamic Process : Constant movement of molecules occurs, but there is no net change in water volume on either side of the membrane.

Experimental Demonstrations of Osmosis

Understanding osmosis can be engaging and entertaining when demonstrated through simple and relatable experiments. These activities allow children to observe osmosis firsthand, using easy-to-find items like eggs and vegetables.

Osmosis Experiments for Kids

Potato Osmosis: A straightforward experiment involves slicing potatoes into identical pieces and submerging them in various liquid solutions. Fill two cups, one with water and the other with a sugar solution . After placing a potato piece in each, children can observe changes over a period of several hours. The potato in the sugar solution tends to become flaccid, demonstrating how water moves from a higher to a lower concentration to balance the sugar concentration between the potato and the solution.

Carrot Cells in Saltwater: Similar to the potato experiment, children can observe the effects of osmosis on carrot sticks. By placing carrots in saltwater, they will witness the carrots becoming limp due to water leaving the cells in an attempt to balance the salt concentration inside and outside the carrot.

Visualizing Osmosis Using Household Items

Naked Eggs: An engaging osmosis demonstration involves using eggs . First, submerge raw eggs in vinegar to dissolve the shells—an attribute of the reaction between acid and calcium carbonate. After about 24 hours, the naked eggs , having only their semi-permeable membranes intact, are soaked in corn syrup or water to showcase osmosis. When placed in corn syrup, eggs lose mass as water exits, while in water, eggs gain mass as water enters.

This experiment clearly demonstrates osmosis as the movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane, driven by the concentration gradient until equilibrium is reached. It’s a captivating way for kids to see and comprehend a complex biological process with common ingredients from the kitchen.

Understanding Tonicity in Cells

Tonicity refers to the ability of a solution surrounding a cell to cause that cell to gain or lose water. It is a crucial concept for understanding how cells maintain their size and shape through the movement of water across the cell membrane.

Hypertonic Solutions

When cells are in a hypertonic solution , there is a higher concentration of solutes like salts and sugars outside the cell than inside. Water moves out of the cell to balance the concentration, resulting in the cell shrinking. This process is driven by osmosis, where water flows from areas of low solute concentration to areas of high solute concentration through a semipermeable membrane.

Hypotonic Solutions

In contrast, a hypotonic solution has fewer solutes outside the cell compared to the inside. Cells placed in such a solution gain water, swelling as a result. This influx of water can lead to an increase in turgor pressure , which is the pressure of the cell contents against the cell membrane or cell wall. Plants rely on turgor pressure in hypotonic environments to maintain their upright structure.

Isotonic Solutions

Lastly, isotonic solutions have equal solute concentrations inside and outside the cell. This balance means that water enters and leaves the cells at the same rate, and thus, cells retain their normal size and shape. In isotonic environments, there is no net movement of water, and turgor pressure remains stable, allowing animal cells to avoid damage from excessive shrinking or swelling.

Applications of Osmosis

Osmosis plays a crucial role in various practical applications that impact daily life and health. From purifying water to preserving food, it is a natural process with significant technological and medical relevance.

Reverse Osmosis in Water Purification

Reverse osmosis is a technology used to remove impurities from water by reversing the natural osmotic process. High pressure pushes water through a semi-permeable membrane, which allows only water to pass while trapping larger particles, including salts and other solutes. This process is widely used in home and industrial water filtration systems , producing clean drinking water free from contaminants.

Osmosis in Food Preservation

Osmosis can be instrumental in food preservation. For example, when food is placed in a highly concentrated salt or sugar solution, water is drawn out from the food through its cell membranes. This reduces microbial growth, as microorganisms rely on moisture. By osmotically removing water, foods such as dried fruits and jerky retain their quality for longer periods without refrigeration.

Medical Uses of Osmosis

In medicine, osmosis is vital for tasks such as administering certain medications and treatments. Osmotic pressure is essential for the functioning of kidneys in producing urine , by filtering out solutes and retaining necessary substances. Additionally, in drug delivery, osmotic pumps exploit osmosis to release medication at a controlled rate, proving crucial for consistent therapeutic effects.

Advanced Concepts

In exploring the advanced concepts of osmosis, it is critical to understand the distinctions between osmosis and other molecular processes, as well as the external factors that affect osmosis, such as temperature.

Active Transport Versus Osmosis

Active transport and osmosis are both processes that move substances across a cell’s membrane, but they operate in fundamentally different ways. Active transport requires energy, typically from ATP (adenosine triphosphate), to move substances against their concentration gradient, that is, from an area of lower concentration to one of higher concentration. In contrast, osmosis is a passive process that occurs without the input of extra energy, where water moves across a permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to one of higher solute concentration to achieve equilibrium.

• Active Transport : Requires energy and can move substances from low to high concentration.
• Osmosis : Does not require energy and moves water from high to low solute concentration.

The Impact of Temperature on Osmosis

Temperature plays a significant role in the rate of osmosis through its influence on the molecules involved in the process. As temperature increases, the kinetic energy of water molecules also increases, which can lead to a faster rate of osmosis. This acceleration occurs because higher temperatures provide the energy water molecules need to move more rapidly across the membrane. Conversely, a decrease in temperature can slow down the osmotic rate as the molecular movement becomes more sluggish.

• Higher Temperatures : Increase molecular movement, leading to a faster osmosis rate.
• Lower Temperatures : Decrease molecular movement, thereby reducing the rate of osmosis.

Frequently Asked Questions

The “Frequently Asked Questions” section addresses common curiosities and clarifies concepts about osmosis in an accessible manner for children.

Can you explain osmosis in a way that a child would understand?

Osmosis is like a group of thirsty people (water molecules) passing through a gate (membrane) to where there’s a lot of snow cones (solute) because they want to share the snow cones evenly.

What is an interesting osmosis experiment that kids can safely perform?

An osmosis experiment for children involves placing gummy bears in different water solutions overnight and observing how they grow due to water moving inside them.

How can osmosis be observed in everyday life?

One can see osmosis in action when sprinkling salt on vegetables and watching the water come out, or when your fingers get wrinkly in the bathtub as water moves into the skin cells.

What makes osmosis so important for living organisms?

Osmosis is crucial as it helps cells get water to function, like how plant roots soak up water from the soil or how our kidneys use it to filter blood.

How does osmosis differ from diffusion, in a child-friendly explanation?

While osmosis is about water moving through a membrane to balance out stuff like sugar or salt, diffusion is like a crowd spreading out in an open field, with everything (not just water) naturally moving from crowded to less crowded areas.

What role does reverse osmosis play in nature?

Reverse osmosis happens when water is pushed against the natural osmosis direction, like when plants pull water up from the roots against gravity, which is vital for them to get nutrients.

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6 Easy Biology Science Experiments for Kids

Let’s dive into studying life and living organisms with a new set of biology experiments for kids! These are all easy and simple to do at home or in your classroom, and all of them are liquid or water-based, so you’ll likely have everything you need on hand to bring these science projects to life. We’ll be exploring osmosis, chromatography, homogenization, transpiration, capillary action, and evaporation.

Related: Check out our other science experiments for kids posts on physics and chemistry !

Gummy Bear Osmosis

“Solute” is a general term that refers to a molecule dissolved in a solution. In a salt water solution, for example, the salt molecules are the solutes. The more salt we put in the solution, the more we increase the concentration of solutes.

Water moves from an area with a lower concentration of solutes to an area with a higher solute concentration. This movement of water molecules is called “osmosis.” In order to examine the process of osmosis and observe how it works, we can look at what happens to gummy bears when they are left to soak in different solutions overnight.

Gummy Bear Osmosis Printable Instructions

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-------------------------------------------------------, what you’ll need:.

• Two container such as bowls, cups, or jars
• Measuring cup
• Gummy bears
• Add ½ cup of water to each of the two empty containers. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to one of the containers and stir well.
• Drop a gummy bear into each container and leave it 8 hours or overnight.
• Observe what happened to each gummy bear. Compare the gummy bears to each other, and also to a gummy bear that was not left to soak overnight.

What’s happening?

The concentration of solutes inside the gummy bear is higher than the concentration of solutes in plain water. As a result, in our experiment, the water flowed into the gummy bear causing it to swell, and that’s why the gummy bear grew overnight.

The same is true for the gummy bear placed in the salt water solution. However, the difference in solute concentration wasn’t as great, so less water flowed into the gummy bear. In other words, it took less water to balance out the solute concentration inside and outside the gummy bear. Thus, the gummy bear in the salt water solution grew less than the bear in the plain water solution.

You can experiment with different solute concentrations to see how it affects the outcome. What happens when you add twice as much salt to the overnight water bath? Is there any amount of salt that can be added to keep the gummy bear the same size?

Exploring Chromatography

Chromatography is a technique used to separate out the components of a mixture. The technique utilizes two phases – a mobile phase and a stationary phase. There are several types of chromatography, but in this experiment, we will be looking at paper chromatography.

In paper chromatography, the stationary phase is filter paper. The mobile phase is the liquid solvent that moves over the filter paper. For this experiment, we will use marker ink to examine how chromatography works.

Exploring Chromatography Printable Instructions

• Three clear containers such as drinking glasses or mason jars
• Coffee filters
• Rubbing alcohol
• Vegetable oil
• Water-soluble marker, any color
• Sharpie marker, any color
• Mark one container with an “A,” a second container with a “W,” and a third container with an “O.” Fill the bottom of the “A” container with rubbing alcohol, the “W” container with water, and the “O” container with vegetable oil. Make sure the liquid in each container comes up no more than ½ an inch from the bottom.
• Take three coffee filters out and measure out 1 inch from the bottom. Mark this spot by drawing a line with the pencil. Make one dot on this line using the water-soluble marker. Do the same with the Sharpie marker.
• Place one coffee filter in each container so that the bottom of the coffee filter is submerged in the solvent but the solvent DOES NOT touch the dots of marker ink. The solvent will travel up the coffee filter and past the dots. Watch what happens to the dots as the solvent moves over them.

Like dissolves like, so substances will interact with solvents that are similar to it. Water-soluble marker ink is polar, so it will interact with polar mobile phases such as water and alcohol. When a non-polar solvent such as vegetable oil moves over it, it will not interact, and therefore will not move.

Sharpie marker ink is “permanent” in the sense that it can’t be washed off with water. It isn’t water-soluble. When the rubbing alcohol moves over it, however, we see that the Sharpie ink interacts with it. This is because Sharpie ink contains alcohols in it. Following the principle of “like dissolves like,” it interacts with the rubbing alcohol.

Using Tie-Dyed Milk to Observe Homogenization

Molecules in a solution tend to aggregate with other molecules that are similarly charged. Fat molecules, for instance, will cluster together with other fat molecules. Milk is made up of different types of molecules, including fat, water, and protein. In order to keep these molecules from completely separating to form layers, milk undergoes a process called homogenization.

Even after undergoing homogenization, however, fat molecules floating free in solution will come together when milk is left sitting undisturbed. To visualize this process, and what happens when those molecules are dispersed, we can use food coloring and dish soap.

Using Tie-Dyed Milk to Observe Homogenization Printable Instructions

• Full fat milk
• 1 small bowl
• Cotton swabs
• Pour some milk into a small bowl. You don’t need a lot of milk for this, just enough to fill the bottom of your bowl. Allow the milk to settle so the surface of the milk is still before moving on to Step 2.
• Add a drop of food coloring to the surface of the milk.
• Dip a cotton swab in dish soap and touch the swab to the surface of the milk, directly adjacent to the drop of food coloring. What happens to the food coloring?

Have you ever tried to mix oil and water? The fat molecules in oil, just like the ones in milk, are “hydrophobic,” meaning they don’t like to be near charged molecules such as water, and will do whatever they can to keep away from them. To achieve this, they clump together. Because the fat molecules are less dense than water, the fat globules float up and form a layer above the water. In our experiment, we added food coloring to this layer of fat globules.

Dish soap is a detergent. Detergent molecules have a hydrophobic end and a hydrophilic end. Because of this, they are able to form a bridge between the fat molecules and the water molecules, causing the fat globules to break up and disperse. What we’re seeing when we add the dish soap is this dispersal of the fat clusters, carrying the food coloring with it and resulting in a beautiful tie-dyed pattern. The result is more dramatic if you add several drops of food coloring and include a variety of colors.

Making water travel through capillary action

Paper towels are designed to pick up spills quickly, absorbing lots of liquid with only a few sheets. But what is it about paper towels that makes them so absorbent? The answer is, in part, capillary action.

In this experiment, we’ll observe how capillary action works to make paper towels efficient. Using nothing but paper towels and the principles governing capillary action, we’ll make water travel from one container and into another.

Making Water Travel through Capillary Action Printable Instructions

• 3 containers (cups or jars)
• Paper towels
• Food coloring
• Line up the three containers. Fill the two containers on either end about ¾ full of water. Add several drops of food coloring to each of the jars. Whatever color you use is up to you, but the effect works best if the two colors combine to make a third color. (For instance – yellow and blue make green.)
• Fold a paper towel in 4 lengthwise. Place one end of the folded paper towel in one of the containers filled with colored water (make sure the end is immersed in the water) and let the other end hang into the empty container. Repeat using a second paper towel and the remaining filled container.
• Let the containers sit for four hours. Check them after 1 hour, 2 hours, and 4 hours. What do you see?

Paper towels are highly porous. These pores function like tiny tubes, or capillaries, to draw up water. Two properties allow this to happen. The first is adhesion. Water molecules are attracted to the walls of the capillaries and “stick” to them. This is enhanced in our experiment because paper towels are made of cellulose molecules that are highly attractive to water. The second property is cohesion. The water molecules like to stick to each other. Together, these two properties allow the water to “travel” along the paper towel against gravity, moving out of one container and dropping into the other.

Efficient paper towels are more porous than less efficient brands, giving them a higher degree of absorbency. Taking this into account, how do you think the progress observed at each time point would differ if you used low quality paper towels instead of highly absorbent ones? How would you expect the color in the middle jar to change if you use a less absorbent paper towel to make the blue water travel, and a more absorbent paper towel to make the yellow water travel?

Observing Xylem in Celery

All plants need water to survive. In order to move water up from the soil and into their shoots and leaves, plants have developed a system of water transport. This system is called “xylem.” We can observe the movement of water through xylem transport by placing stalks of celery in colored water. The colored water moves through the stalk and up into the leaves, making the path of the water through this system visible.

Observing Xylem in Celery Printable Instructions

• A container such as a jar or vase
• Add 1 cup of water to the empty container. Add 2 drops of food coloring to the water (or however many it takes to achieve the color desired) and stir well to mix.
• Choose a celery stalk that has leaves attached to the top. Cut about 1 inch off the bottom of the stalk.
• Place the stalk upright in the container, making sure the bottom of the stalk is immersed in the water.
• Leave the celery out over night. Observe what happens. Take the celery out of the water and cut it open to get a better look at the path the water took.

Plants use a system called xylem to pull water up from the ground and transport it up through the shoot into their leaves. This process is passive, meaning it doesn’t require any energy in order to occur. That’s why the celery was able to pull water up overnight. The celery pulled colored water through its stalk via the xylem transport system. The colored water traveled all the way into the leaves, staining them.

The xylem transport system can be seen more clearly when the celery is cut. The colored water stains the xylem cells, making them visible.

One phenomenon that drives the flow of water through a plant is transpiration. Transpiration is the name given to the process by which water evaporates from the leaves of a plant. What do you think would happen if we repeated the experiment using a celery stalk whose leaves had been cut off? Try it and see!

How to Make it Rain Indoors

One of the properties of water is that it can exist in different phases. It can exist as a liquid, which is the form we’re most familiar with, and it can also exist as a solid (ice), or gas (water vapor). In this experiment, we’ll take water through two of its phases – liquid and gas. We’ll observe how temperature causes water to move from one phase into another. This will allow us to get a better idea of what happens to water in nature, and the role temperature plays in the water cycle.

How to Make it Rain Indoors Printable Instructions

• Large container such as a jar
• A ceramic plate
• Heat approximately eight cups of water to just steaming. This can be done on the stovetop or the microwave, but a stovetop will give you more control over the heating process.
• Pour the water into the jar until it is completely full and allow the jar to sit for five minutes. This will heat the jar for the experiment. After five minutes, discard the water.
• Add enough heated water to fill the jar up approximately halfway. Cover the jar opening with the plate, making sure no steam can escape. Let the jar sit for 3 minutes. Observe what happens to the water in the jar. Note any changes you see.
• After 3 minutes have passed, place enough ice on top of the dinner plate to cover its surface. Watch what happens to the jar.

The water cycle is responsible for producing rain. Liquid water evaporates, sending water vapor into the atmosphere. When the water vapor reaches the cooler air in the upper atmosphere, it condenses back into water droplets, forming clouds. If too much water condenses, or if the temperature becomes colder, the condensed water will fall back down to earth in the form of rain.

In this experiment, we replicated these conditions to produce “rain.” First, we let the heated water form water vapor inside the jar. The water vapor filled the space between the water surface and the plate. We then added ice to our plate, initiating a quick temperature drop. The lower temperature caused the water vapor to condense. This was visible as water droplets that beaded and ran down the sides of the jar. This is how rain happens. We made it rain inside our jar!

You might also like this lesson plan: Learning About Glowing Animals – Bioluminescence or Biofluorescence?

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