The Effects of Salt Water on Gummy Bears

Marisela Andrade The Effects of Salt Water on Gummy Bears Facilitated diffusion depends on passive transport. Molecules cross cell membrane by diffusion. A type of diffusion is osmosis. If no energy is input into the system during diffusion, the molecules will reach a state of equilibrium. The purpose of this experiment was to study why the death occurred among those who drank salt water. Two blue gummy bears had a height of 2 centimeters each. The mass of these gummy bears together were 5. 28 grams.

Two orange gummy bears had a height of 2 centimeters each. The mass of these gummy bears together were 5. 37 grams. The blue gummy bears were contained in water for 24 hours while the orange gummy bears were kept in a container filled with 3. 5% salt water for 24 hours. The gummy bears were taken out of these containers after 24 hours and measured for their mass and height again. The blue gummy bears height decreased to 1. 8 centimeters each and its mass decreased by 32%. The orange gummies height increased to 2. 5 centimeters and its mass increased by 62%.

Gummy bears are made up of a mixture of sugar and glucose syrup along with citric acid and gelatin. Citric acid is an organic acid to add a sour taste to food and drinks. Gelatin is a mixture of peptides and proteins produced by partial hydrolysis of collagen extracted from the skin. Therefore, the salt water entered the blue gummy bear and mixed up with the sugar and glucose syrup leaving it small and hard. The orange gummy bear increased in size and mass because the water entered the body and mixed up with ingredients, causing the gelatin to grow.