Question
Students used gummy bears to represent cells in the gummy bear osmosis lab. After obtaining an initial mass for each gummy bear, the gummies were soaked for 24 hours in different solutions and then dried and massed. The solutions included: distilled water, tap water, 20% sugar solution, and 40% salt solution. After 24 hours, the percent change of each gummy bear was calculated and is shown below: Distilled Water: +320% Tap Water: +200% 40% Salt Solution: -60% 20% Sugar Solution: +85% Based on the data, which gummy bear was in the salt solution and what was the tonicity of that solution? Responses A A; hypotonicA; hypotonic B B; hypertonicB; hypertonic C C; hypertonicC; hypertonic D D; hypotonicD; hypotonic
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To determine which gummy bear was in the salt solution and the tonicity of that solution, we need to analyze the data provided regarding the percent change in mass for each solution:
- **Distilled Water:** +320% (the gummy bears gained mass, indicating that the distilled water is hypotonic compared to the gummy bear cells)
- **Tap Water:** +200% (also hypotonic, as the gummy bears gained mass)
- **20% Sugar Solution:** +85% (the gummy bears gained mass, albeit less than in water solutions, indicating that the sugar solution is also hypotonic but less so than the pure water)
- **40% Salt Solution:** -60% (the gummy bears lost mass, indicating that the gummy bear cells are in a hypertonic environment with respect to the salt solution)
From the results:
- **Hypotonic Solutions (where gummy bears gained mass):** Distilled Water, Tap Water, 20% Sugar Solution
- **Hypertonic Solution (where gummy bears lost mass):** 40% Salt Solution
Since the gummy bear in the salt solution lost mass (indicating that water moved out of the gummy bear cells to the surrounding solution), we can infer that the gummy bear in the 40% salt solution experienced a decrease in mass.
Based on the options given:
- Gummy Bears A, B, C, and D do not have identifiable characteristics from the mass data alone.
However, since the salt solution was hypertonic (causing the gummy bear to lose mass), the appropriate response for the gummy bear in the 40% salt solution is:
**Response B**: B; hypertonic B; hypertonic.
This matches the data provided, as the gummy bear that lost mass was exposed to the hypertonic 40% salt solution.
- **Distilled Water:** +320% (the gummy bears gained mass, indicating that the distilled water is hypotonic compared to the gummy bear cells)
- **Tap Water:** +200% (also hypotonic, as the gummy bears gained mass)
- **20% Sugar Solution:** +85% (the gummy bears gained mass, albeit less than in water solutions, indicating that the sugar solution is also hypotonic but less so than the pure water)
- **40% Salt Solution:** -60% (the gummy bears lost mass, indicating that the gummy bear cells are in a hypertonic environment with respect to the salt solution)
From the results:
- **Hypotonic Solutions (where gummy bears gained mass):** Distilled Water, Tap Water, 20% Sugar Solution
- **Hypertonic Solution (where gummy bears lost mass):** 40% Salt Solution
Since the gummy bear in the salt solution lost mass (indicating that water moved out of the gummy bear cells to the surrounding solution), we can infer that the gummy bear in the 40% salt solution experienced a decrease in mass.
Based on the options given:
- Gummy Bears A, B, C, and D do not have identifiable characteristics from the mass data alone.
However, since the salt solution was hypertonic (causing the gummy bear to lose mass), the appropriate response for the gummy bear in the 40% salt solution is:
**Response B**: B; hypertonic B; hypertonic.
This matches the data provided, as the gummy bear that lost mass was exposed to the hypertonic 40% salt solution.