Mrs. Wolodkowicz

Biology 1H

Transport inan Egg Exercise

  1. Purpose: An egg is a single cell within a shell made largely of calcium carbonate. The interior of the egg consists primarily of the protein-rich albumen (egg white) and lipid and protein-rich yolk. Over a five day period the student will observe the changes that occur when an egg is placed in 3 different solutions & relate them to osmosis and material studied in class.
  2. Materials: 1 raw chicken egg, beaker, graduated cylinder, string, meter stick, masking tape, vinegar, corn syrup, distilled water and litmus paper.
  3. Procedure:
  4. Day 1: Label a piece of masking tape with your selected group name and place it on your beaker. Determine the long-axis circumference of the egg. Place 200ml of vinegar in your beaker. Now carefully add the egg. Determine the volume of the egg by subtracting the initial amount of fluid in the beaker from the displaced amount of vinegar (vinegar with the egg in it). Determine the pH and place all recordings on the data table. Based on our knowledge of egg and vinegar, determine a hypothesis predicting what may happen to the egg and record that information on the data table.
  5. Day 2: Observe the egg and collect the required data. Place that data on your data table. Leave the egg in the vinegar for another 24 hours.
  6. Day 3: Observe your egg and collect required data and place on data table. Remove the egg, empty the vinegar and rinse beaker. Place 200 ml of corn syrup into the beaker and place the egg in this new solution. Create a hypothesis predicting what may happen to the egg in the new solution and record that information on the data table.
  7. Day 4: Remove the egg from the beaker and collect the required data. Empty the corn syrup and rinse out your beaker. Place 200ml of distilled water into the beaker and return the egg to this new solution. Create a hypothesis prediction what may happen to the egg in the new solution and record that information on the data table.
  8. Day 5: Remove the egg from the beaker and collect the required data. Empty the beaker and clean it thoroughly. Dispose of the egg.
  9. Conclusion: On a separate piece of paper, summarize the experiment. Make sure to refer to your results explaining what happened, when & why to your egg during the week.