In recent freshman biology classes, students embarked on a fun educational experiment using gummy bears, distilled water, tap water, and a dash of salt. The project aimed to explore the principles of osmosis and how different solutions affect cell size, using gummy bears as stand-ins for cells.
The experiment began with students placing one gummy bear in separate containers filled with distilled water, and the other in tap water. Over several days, the gummy bears size and weight. As expected, the gummy bears in both solutions swelled as water moved into the bears through osmosis, attempting to balance the solute concentrations. The real fun started when salt was added to the solutions. Students watched as the gummy bears, now plump from their water bath, began to shrink as water moved out of the bears to equalize the higher salt concentration in the surrounding solution.
To add a bit of fun, our teacher Darren Halliman offered extra credit to students brave enough to eat the gummy bears after the experiment.
“It was such a fun experiment and although it was quite gross, I would definitely do it again.”, said Maggie Rambach.
While some students were hesitant, a few adventurous people took the plunge, reporting that the gummy bears tasted either bland or salty, depending on the solution they were in.
“Seeing people ‘s faces when eating the gummy bears is the highlight of my year”, states Halliman.
This hand-s on (and taste-bud-on experience) provided a memorable way for students to understand the concepts of osmosis, diffusion, and the impact of solution on cell size.
