Hi, just have some questions regarding movement of substances through membrane.
In my experiment, I have to place beet root slices in different alcohol concentration and observe the movement. My teacher said that I can not refer the concentrated alcohol solution as a hypertonic environment since this is not about the amount of solute in the extra cellular fluid. What should I refer this type of alcohol solution to? Secondly, what I have observed through the experiment is that the more concentrated the alcohol solution, the more pink pigment from beet root diffuse out of the cell, is it because when alcohol moves into the cell through diffusion, the membrane is under stressed and hence release its pigment to balance the concentration gradient.
Finally, in the experiment, I also need to place beet root slices in different type of pH range solution as well. In a pH of 2, I realize that the pink pigment is released much significantly compared to the pH of 6 and 8, is it because the acidity of pH has denatured the protein channels, leaving a huge gaps in the membrane, hence the cell releases its cell content more readily?
Thanks heaps guys :d!