Make-up Lab: Osmosis in an Onion Cell

This microscope slide is of red onion cells sitting in a bath of distilled water. It is viewed at medium power (100x). Draw these cells in the first circle on your lab paper. Label the cell walls and the large central vacuole (the pink/purple area).

This microscope slide is of red onion cells sitting in a bath of 10% NaCl. It is viewed at medium power (100x). Draw these cells in the 2nd circle on your lab paper. Label the cell walls and the large central vacuole (the pink/purple area). *Notice the size difference in the vacuole. What happened and why?

If you were to take the 2nd slide (the red onion in salt water) and add distilled water to the sample, what do you think would happen to the vacuole? Draw your prediction in the 3rd circle. Label it Figure 3: DI Water prediction. For magnification, write n/a. Under the drawing, write a description of what is happening and why. Then, answer all the lab questions.