Question

scenario 1:
students want to make a gummy bear grow in
size for their lab. they place it in a cup of
water and notice that it completely dissolves.
they want to keep the gummy bear intact.
q1. what type of solution did they use?
q2. describe the movement of water using
concentration gradients
q3. how can they modify their lab to ensure
the gummy bear grows but does not dissolve?

Explanation:

Q1

A hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration than the substance (gummy bear, which has sugar/solute). But if the gummy bear dissolved, the water might be a solvent that can dissolve its components, or maybe it's a solution where the solute (like water being a solvent for the gummy bear's components) led to dissolution. Wait, actually, if the gummy bear dissolved, the solution (water) is a solvent that can dissolve the gummy bear's solutes (like gelatin, sugar). But for the question of the type of solution that caused dissolution: a solution where the solvent (water) has a lower solute concentration than the gummy bear's internal solute, but the solvent can dissolve the gummy bear's components. Alternatively, maybe it's a solution that is a solvent for the gummy bear's material. But more accurately, when the gummy bear dissolves, the water is a solution (aqueous) that can solvate the gummy bear's components. But the key is that the solution (water) has a lower solute concentration than the gummy bear's internal solute, but the solvent (water) can dissolve the gummy bear's solutes (so the gummy bear is a solute here). Wait, no—gummy bear is made of substances like gelatin, sugar, etc. If placed in water, water can dissolve the sugar and other soluble components. So the solution used was a hypotonic solution (water) relative to the gummy bear's internal solute concentration, but the water acted as a solvent to dissolve the gummy bear's soluble parts. So the type of solution is a hypotonic solution (water) that caused dissolution because the water could dissolve the gummy bear's components.

Osmosis: water moves from high water concentration (low solute) to low water concentration (high solute) across a semipermeable membrane. But in this case, the gummy bear's structure (if it had a membrane - like structure, or the solutes in the gummy bear) – the water (solution) has a higher water concentration (lower solute) than the gummy bear's internal environment (higher solute from sugar, gelatin - related solutes). But since the gummy bear dissolved, maybe the "membrane" (or structure) was disrupted, and water moved into the gummy bear's components, dissolving the solutes (like sugar) into the water. So water moves from the solution (water, high water concentration) to the gummy bear's internal solute - rich areas (low water concentration) via osmosis, and the solutes (from gummy bear) move out into the water, leading to dissolution.

To make the gummy bear grow (osmosis - based swelling) without dissolving, we need a solution that is hypotonic (lower solute than gummy bear) but the solvent doesn't dissolve the gummy bear's components. So use a solution with a solute that can't dissolve the gummy bear (e.g., salt solution? No, salt might affect. Wait, gummy bear is mostly sugar and gelatin. So use a solution with a solute that the gummy bear's components can't dissolve in, like a solution of a non - dissolving solute (e.g., corn syrup? No, corn syrup has sugar. Wait, better: use a solution with a solute concentration lower than the gummy bear's internal solute concentration, but the solvent is such that the gummy bear's components don't dissolve. For example, use a solution of a substance that the gummy bear's materials (gelatin, sugar) don't dissolve in, like a salt solution with a lower salt concentration than the gummy bear's internal solute concentration (but salt doesn't dissolve the gummy bear's gelatin). Wait, actually, the key is to use a hypotonic solution (lower solute than gummy bear) where the solvent doesn't dissolve the gummy bear's structure. So replace water with a solution that has a solute (e.g., a sugar solution with lower sugar concentration than the gummy bear, or a salt solution) that the gummy bear's components (gelatin) don't dissolve in. Alternatively, use a solution with a solute that the gummy bear can't dissolve in, like a solution of a polymer that doesn't interact with the gummy bear. But more simply: use a hypotonic solution (lower solute concentration than the gummy bear) with a solute that the gummy bear's materials (gelatin, sugar) are insoluble in. For example, use a salt solution with a salt concentration lower than the gummy bear's internal solute concentration. The water will enter the gummy bear via osmosis (hypotonic solution: water moves into gummy bear, causing it to swell/grow), and the salt doesn't dissolve the gummy bear's structure (since gelatin is not soluble in salt solutions in the same way as in water for dissolution). Or use a solution of a sugar (like fructose) with lower concentration than the gummy bear's sugar concentration. The water will enter the gummy bear (osmosis, hypotonic), and the fructose won't dissolve the gummy bear's gelatin.

Answer:

They used a hypotonic solution (water). The water, having a lower solute concentration than the gummy bear's internal solute concentration, acted as a solvent to dissolve the gummy bear's soluble components (like sugar), leading to its dissolution.

Q2