Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Measurements of Soil Water Potential and Conductivity based on a Simple Evaporation Experiment using a Hydraulic Property Analyzer
07:21

Measurements of Soil Water Potential and Conductivity based on a Simple Evaporation Experiment using a Hydraulic Property Analyzer

Published on: August 9, 2024

PERFORMANCE OF THE HEPP MICRO-OSMOMETER

E Peters1, G Saslow

  • 1Boston Lying-In Hospital, The Department of Obstetrics, The Harvard Medical School, and the Department of Physiology, The Harvard School of Public Health, Boston.

The Journal of General Physiology
|October 30, 2009
PubMed

Insights

The Hepp osmometer accurately estimates horse serum albumin molecular weight, comparable to Adair

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Physical Chemistry

Background:

  • Accurate molecular weight determination is crucial for understanding protein function.
  • Osmotic pressure measurements are a standard method for estimating molecular weight.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the Hepp osmometer for determining the molecular weight of horse serum albumin.
  • To compare the Hepp osmometer's performance with the Adair osmometer.

Main Methods:

  • Osmotic pressure measurements of horse serum albumin solutions.
  • Concentration range: 0.713 to 5.12 gm. per 100 cc.
  • Comparison with Adair osmometer values.

Main Results:

  • The Hepp osmometer provided molecular weight values consistent with the Adair osmometer.
  • Accuracy and precision decreased below 0.7 gm/100 cc albumin concentration.
  • Duplicate determinations were completed in under 2 hours.
  • The instrument demonstrated ease of operation.

Conclusions:

  • The Hepp osmometer is a reliable and efficient instrument for estimating horse serum albumin molecular weight.
  • The instrument is suitable for routine laboratory use.
  • Limitations regarding accuracy at low concentrations were noted.

More Related Videos

A High Performance Impedance-based Platform for Evaporation Rate Detection06:39

A High Performance Impedance-based Platform for Evaporation Rate Detection

Published on: October 17, 2016

Measuring Respiratory Function in Mice Using Unrestrained Whole-body Plethysmography08:51

Measuring Respiratory Function in Mice Using Unrestrained Whole-body Plethysmography

Published on: August 12, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Measurement of Fluid Pressure01:16

Measurement of Fluid Pressure

Fluid pressure is commonly measured using devices called manometers, which rely on liquid columns to indicate pressure differences. The height of a liquid column in a manometer reflects the pressure exerted by the fluid, providing a simple yet effective means of measurement. Different types of manometers serve specific purposes based on their configurations and the type of fluids involved.
A basic form of manometer is the piezometer, a vertical tube open at the top and filled with the same...
Pressure Gauges01:20

Pressure Gauges

Most pressure gauges, like those on scuba tanks, are calibrated to read zero at atmospheric pressure. Readings from such gauges are called the gauge pressure, which is the pressure relative to atmospheric pressure. When the pressure inside the tank exceeds atmospheric pressure, the gauge reports a positive value. Some gauges are designed to measure negative pressure. For example, many physics experiments must take place in a vacuum chamber, a rigid chamber from which some of the air is pumped...
Constant Pressure Calorimetry03:02

Constant Pressure Calorimetry

Calorimetry is a technique used to measure the amount of heat involved in a chemical or physical process or to measure the heat transferred to or from a substance. The heat is exchanged with a calibrated and insulated device called the calorimeter. Calorimetry experiments are based on the assumption that there is no heat exchange between the insulated calorimeter and the external environment. The well-insulated calorimeters prevent the transfer of heat between the calorimeter and its external...
Measurement of Blood Pressure01:17

Measurement of Blood Pressure

Assessing blood pressure is a standard procedure executed in virtually all medical environments. The method utilized today was established over a hundred years ago by an innovative Russian doctor, Dr. Nikolai Korotkoff. The soft ticking noise, known as Korotkoff sounds, heard while taking blood pressure readings results from turbulent blood flow within the vessels. The apparatus required for this procedure includes a sphygmomanometer, a blood pressure cuff attached to a gauge, and a stethoscope.
Equipments Used To Measure Blood Pressure01:30

Equipments Used To Measure Blood Pressure

Direct Method
This invasive approach involves cannulating a peripheral artery. During each cardiac contraction, pressure generates mechanical motion within the catheter, transmitted through rigid, fluid-filled tubing to a transducer. This transducer converts mechanical motion into electrical signals displayed as waveforms on a monitor. An automatic flushing system prevents blood backflow. Due to the potential risk of unexpected arterial blood loss, this method is primarily used in intensive...
Osmotic Pressure01:26

Osmotic Pressure

Osmosis is a process where solvent molecules move toward a solution through a semipermeable membrane. As the solution dilutes due to the entry of solvent, it expands. This expansion increases the hydrostatic pressure of the solution. When the hydrostatic pressure equals the osmotic pressure, osmosis stops.Osmotic pressure, denoted by Π, is the minimum pressure needed to prevent the solvent from passing into the solution by osmosis. The van 't Hoff equation calculates the osmotic pressure of an...