Osmosis, Osmosis, Osmosis
By Joni Myres
What is osmosis?
Have you ever heard the phrase, "you're not going to learn this by osmosis", or have you ever wondered why salt water fish can not survive in freshwater? The answer is, OSMOSIS!
Osmosis is the process by which molecules of a solvent tend to pass through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one, thus equalizing the concentrations on each side of the membrane.
How can I demonstrate osmosis?
You can easily demonstrate osmosis through a simple lab with some inexpensive supplies.
Materials needed:
2 eggs
Vinegar
Water
Corn Syrup
Cups
Spoon
**Note: You will have to build in time to create your "naked eggs".
Materials
You will need two days in advance to create your "naked eggs". When you submerge a normal egg into distilled vinegar, the eggshell will dissolve.
Go to this website for further information:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/eggs/activity-naked.html
During the experiment
After you have created your naked eggs, then you will place one into the cup full of water and one into the cup of corn syrup and let them sit overnight. **Add food coloring to the water to make for a greater effect.
The Finale!
After the shell-less eggs have set in their solutions over night you will then see how the process of osmosis has taken place.