Kidney Beans Lab Report

Imbibition in Kidney Beans * Aim of Experiment: * To investigate the effect that emersion in salt solutions has on imbibition in kidney beans. * Safety Considerations: * One must use extreme caution when working with chemicals. Always wear protective goggles and gloves when handling them. KCl is slightly hazardous in case of skin contact, eye contact, ingestion, or inhalation. In case of eye contact, immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical attention if irritation develops. In case of skin contact, wash with soap and water. Cover the irritated area with a moisturizer. Seek medical attention if irritation develops. In case of inhalation, move to fresh air. Seek medical attention if breathing is difficult. In case of ingestion, loosen
Thick, gooey mucilages extruded from seed coats increase imbibition, as do the cellulose and pectins located in cell walls. * Availability of water: The ability to imbibe water is dependent on cell water potential and is a result of three forces: * Cell wall matric forces: Cell walls and intracellular inclusions such as mitochondria and ribosomes are characterized by the presence of membranes. These membranes possess charges that attract water molecules and contribute to the total cell water potential. In a salt solution, there are less water molecules for the membranes to attract, causing less water to be imbibed into the seed. * Cell osmotic concentration: The greater the concentration of soluble compounds, the greater the attraction for water. * Cell turgor pressure: As water enters a cell, it exerts a swelling force on the cell wall called turgor pressure. Turgor pressure is a result of the restraining force of the cell wall and tends to slow water