How do kidneys filter waste products from substances needed by the body? Your research team is challenged to test a newly developed dialysis tubing to determine its effectiveness. Should we use it in all of our new kidney dialysis machines???

Learning Goals:  To make a model of a cell with a selectively permeable membrane;  to observe the diffusion of a substance across the membrane; to use an indicator to determine the direction of diffusion;  to use mass as an indication of direction of osmosis and diffusion; calculate the rate of diffusion.

Key concepts: diffusion, osmosis, plasma membrane, selectively permeable, indicators or organic compounds, dialysis, osmotic pressure, measuring mass, making careful observations.

Kidney Dialysis Investigation Lab download