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Plasmolysis
TIME, (min)
Steps of Plasmolysis
Plasmolysis
Purpose: The purpose of this lab experiment is to demonstrate
a biological principle observed in plant cells called
plasmolysis. Plasmolysis is the loss of water from the cell by
osmosis, and this is evident when the cell contents pull away
from the rigid cell wall as the water moves out.
Materials and Methods: For this experiment, the student
requires a microscope, clean slides and cover slips, dropper,
salt, spatula, and elodea. Prepare a wet mount using a single
leaf. Carefully add some salt crystals to the edge of the cover
slip. You may need to add a drop more water onto the crystals
with the dropper. Now place the slide on the microscope stage
and observe the leaf cells on low and then high power.
Experiment: As water moves out of the cells by osmosis, you
should observe the cytoplasmic contents clumping away from
the cell wall as shown in the diagram below. Label the cell wall,
central vacuole, cell membrane, and cytoplasm on the cell
shown below at left.
In the diagram below, the cell is seen under normal
conditions.
The cell is at
LC HC Dynamic
HC LC Equilibrium!
Plasmolyzed cell
HC LC
LC
HC