Fun Experiments to See Diffusion and Osmosis

Learning about diffusion and osmosis can be exciting! You can try some easy experiments at home or in school to see how these processes work.

1. Diffusion with Food Coloring

• What You Need: A glass of water and a drop of food coloring.
• How to Do It: Fill a glass with water. Then, drop a small amount of food coloring into the water.
• What to Watch For: See how the color spreads out in the water. This is called diffusion! The food coloring moves from where there is a lot of it (the drop) to where there isn’t much (the rest of the water). You can also check how long it takes for the color to spread, especially in different temperatures.

2. Osmosis with Potatoes

• What You Need: A potato, salt, two bowls, and some water.
• How to Do It: Cut the potato in half. Put one half in a bowl with saltwater and the other half in regular water.
• What to Watch For: After a few hours, look at both potato halves. The one in saltwater will feel firmer or look shriveled because water is leaving it (that’s osmosis!). The one in regular water will get bigger as water moves into it.

3. Diffusion with Gummy Bears

• What You Need: Gummy bears, water, and two bowls.
• How to Do It: Put some gummy bears in plain water and some in saltwater.
• What to Watch For: After 24 hours, the gummy bears in plain water will puff up, while the ones in saltwater will shrink. This shows how osmosis can change how cells act!

Conclusion

These fun experiments help you see how diffusion and osmosis work in a clear way. Remember, these movements in and out of cells are very important for cells to stay healthy and do their jobs. Enjoy your experiments!