Egg-Cellent Example of a Proper Conclusion

Egg-cellent Example of a Proper conclusion! (Egg osmosis lab)

Submitted by Student X (2009) :

“After conducting several trials in which an egg was put into 3 solutions; tap water, colored tap water, and corn syrup, some eggs increased in circumference while others shriveled. Those put in the (regular) tap water’s circumference increased from an average circumference of 14.375 cm to 15.375 cm. The (colored) tap water eggs also increased their circumferences an average of 1 cm. The eggs put into the corn syrup solution, on the other hand, decreased in circumference and even shriveled up. They decreased in circumference from 14.375 to 13.56 cm.

The reason the eggs had different outcomes is because the solution had different levels of solute concentration. The tap water and the colored tap water both had a lower solute concentration than the egg. Therefore, tap water and colored tap water are hypotonic (solutions). In effect of having lower solute concentrations than the egg, the egg increased in circumference because it absorbed water (water flowed from outside the membrane to inside!). The corn syrup solution has a higher solute concentration than the egg, therefore corn syrup is a hypertonic solution (compared to the egg). The egg in this case lost water, decreasing its circumference, and shriveled up all due to osmosis.

My (The) hypothesis, that the egg placed in tap water will increase (in circumference) the most, is SUPPORTED by my (the) data. Due to osmosis, or diffusion of water, the circumference of the egg in tap water and colored water increased. Sources of error in this experiment could have been human error. Students could have measured wrongly (inaccurately). Also, the types of eggs used in our (this) experiment were not all exactly the same, therefore causing inaccurate data. In the future, this experiment could be more accurate by using better instruments to measure more precisely and see through the membrane (??) or more trials with different solutions can be made.”

KEY: 1) Introduction of lab procedures and overall results 2) Discussion/ Reasoning behind the results – explanation of what the lab was about and how it relates to your data – THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONCLUSION!!! 3) Original hypothesis and if SUPPORTED or not including brief statement of explanation - NOT PROVEN! 4) Sources of error in the experiment or what could be done differently next time

Notes: (Ms. Rago’s words) – for added clarification * WATCH POINT OF VIEW! EVERYTHING SHOULD BE THIRD PERSON, NO PRONOUNS! (I, ME, MY, OUR, THEY, WE, ETC…)