Omega Science Lab: October 11, 2011 (Diffusion)

Today, in the Omega Science Lab, we did an experiment with iodine and cornstarch. It was a replica of our cells and nutrients, the baggie being the cell and the iodine being the nutrients the cell needs to stay healthy. I learned that iodine is an indicator, which means that when it comes in contact with a starch, it turns purple. When we put the baggie in the iodine solution, it didn't turn purple right away, it took a few minutes. We also learned that by mixing the iodine with water, we were diluting it. Diffusion is when molecules spread out, they also tend to move from higher concentrated areas to lower concentrated areas, just like we would spread into the hall if we were squished in a room. By the time we took our bags out from the solution, the turned from white to white with vibrant streaks of purple. We compared this to our cells, since the baggie is the cell membrane, it controls what goes into the cell, and the iodine ( the nutrients our cells need to function) can penetrate that and, if they are small enough, get through the barrier.