Osmolarity and Tonicity: An Inquiry Laboratory Using Plant Material
Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2011, Volume 32
Dee U. Silverthorn
Abstract
The difference between osmolarity and tonicity is a difficult concept for students to understand and often for faculty to teach. We adapted techniques from the traditional potato-plug laboratory to create an inquiry laboratory that demonstrates the principles of osmolarity and tonicity. Students design two experiments: first, they must try to determine the internal osmolarity of their plant material, and second, they test whether a particular solute is a penetrating solute for plant cells. The inquiry level can be adjusted by the instructor.
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