Osmosis: Determination of the rate of osmosis and the isotonic concentration
Author(s): Julie Takacs1, Evdokia Kastanos2, Vedham Karpakakunjaram3, Robin Minor4
1. Anne Arundel Community College 2. Montgomery College/Rockville 3. Biology Department, Montgomery College 4. Community College of Baltimore County
473 total view(s), 216 download(s)
- Osmosis Module_Instructor Guide_QUBES V3.docx (Instructors only)(DOCX | 759 KB)
- Osmosis Module_Prework A_Student V2_QUBES.docx(DOCX | 324 KB)
- Osmosis Module_Prework B_Student V2_QUBES.docx(DOCX | 266 KB)
- Osmosis_In-class Module_Student V_QUBES_V2.docx(DOCX | 90 KB)
- License terms
Description
The module is designed to be implemented in a 50-minute class session. In addition to the notes below, the instructor version has implementation tips, including for online courses. Calculators will be helpful, and students will need graph paper or computers with Excel.
The module requires some familiarity with the concepts of solutions, concentration, osmosis, and graphing, on graph paper or using Excel. If students do not have the background or need a review, there is a pre-work assignment that accompanies the module that can be assigned. There are two versions of the pre-work, A and B. Version B asks students to create a graph on Excel and contains an additional section on the connection between osmosis and stomata on leaves. In the files, there is a student version of the pre-work assignments and module, and an instructor version which contains the answer key for all parts.
To begin the module lesson, have students work on the Readiness Assessment Test question in groups of 3-4. It may be helpful to guide students to make sketches for this first problem to help them interpret the scenario. After reviewing this problem as a class, students then begin the main section of the module where they are presented with data that they will be guided to evaluate. Students will be asked to make two graphs and will analyze their results in the context of osmosis. Students may need help with graphing, especially if they are not familiar with Excel.
This module was developed and implemented as part of the NEXUS Institute for Quantitative Biology (NIQB), which is a collaborative project funded by the National Science Foundation's Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (NSF-IUSE) initiative. NIQB is a collaboration between University of Maryland, Baltimore County (DUE-1821274), Anne Arundel Community College (DUE-1821179), Community College of Baltimore County (DUE-1821249), Howard Community College (DUE-1820903), and Montgomery College (DUE-1821169).
Cite this work
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
- Takacs, J., Kastanos, E., Karpakakunjaram, V., Minor, R. (2023). Osmosis: Determination of the rate of osmosis and the isotonic concentration. NEXUS Institute for Quantitative Biology (NIQB), QUBES Educational Resources. doi:10.25334/E4HY-R072