Egg Osmosis Lab 

Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules through a selectively permeable 

membrane. 

Aly Furnas 
Pre-Ap Biology  
 
 
 

 
INTRODUCTION 

This osmosis lab consists of putting an egg through a trial of experiments. First, setting 
the egg into vinegar as a hypotonic solution. Second, placing the egg into syrup as a 
hypertonic solution. Finally, putting the egg into tap water for equilibrium. 

HYPOTHESIS 

If the egg is placed into vinegar, then the water molecules will use osmosis to move into 
the egg and cause it to be at the point where the egg will burst with the slightest touch. 

Day One 

PROCEDURE 

1. Fill beaker with 200 mL of vinegar 

2. Set egg into beaker 
3. Observe and record data 

DATA 

Mass (g)  Volume Added (mL)  Volume Remaining (mL) 

64.1g  200 mL vinegar  ----------------------------------------- 

RESULTS 

Due to a hypotonic process, after three days, we observed the egg and 
noticed that the water molecules, because of osmosis, grew by 28.2 
grams. When we took the egg out of the substance, we recorded the 
volume that was remaining in the beaker. About 14.3% of the water 
molecules in the vinegar was absorbed into the egg. 

 
Day Four 

PROCEDURE 

1. Fill beaker with 200 mL of syrup  

2. Place egg carefully into beaker 
3. Observe and record data 

DATA 

Mass (g)  Volume Added (mL)  Volume Remaining (mL) 

92.3g  200 mL syrup  175 mL vinegar 

RESULTS 

Due to a hypertonic solution, the water molecules 

inside the egg was removed from the egg, caused by 
osmosis. While observing the egg, the beaker had 
gained 25 mL more fluid than the starting amount of 
200 mL. While recording data, there was a noticeable 
difference between the mass of the egg before and the 
mass of the egg after. Since water was being removed 
from the cell, the mass of the egg was 36.4 grams less 
than the starting mass of 92.3 grams. 

 
Day Five 

PROCEDURE 

1. Fill beaker with 200 mL of water 

2. Place egg into beaker 
3. Observe and record data 

DATA 

Mass (g)  Volume Added (mL)  Volume Remaining (mL) 

55.9g  200 mL water  225 mL syrup 

RESULTS 

Due to equilibrium, the water molecules in the egg 

balanced itself out because of osmosis. Water 
molecules moved into the cell causing the egg to gain 
40.2 grams from the original weight of 55.9 grams to 
96.1 grams. After further observation, something to 
take into account is the amount of liquid left in the 
beaker. There was 150 mL of water left in the beaker at 
the end of this experiment. 

 
Day Six 

PROCEDURE 

Observe and record data of the egg  

DATA 

Mass (g)  Volume Added (mL)  Volume Remaining (mL) 

96.1g  N/A  150 mL water 

RESULTS 

When taking the egg out of the beaker, we observed that it was 
larger. It was a total of 96.1 grams and there was 150 mL of 
water left in the beaker. Due to osmosis, the cell reached 
equilibrium with the water molecules outside the cell. This 
caused the egg to grow and only 75% of the fluid left in the 
beaker. 

CONCLUSION 

The result of this lab is that with different substances, osmosis affects the way a cell 
responds. When the egg was in the vinegar, osmosis caused the egg to swell to the point 
of nearly bursting in our hands. When the egg wa set in the syrup, the egg’s water 
amount was severely decreased. Lastly, while the egg was in the water, it reached 
equilibrium and equaled the amount of water molecules on the inside of the cell to the 
outside of the cell.