Seed Imbibition Lab

Question:

What is the mass and volume change of a seed when it imbibes water prior to germination?

Background:

Imbibition is the adsorbance of water by colloidal materials. Unlike osmosis, no membranes are involved. The surfaces of the colloids attract and hold water with intermolecular forces. These layers of adsorbed water push apart the materials and cause swelling. For example, wood will imbibe water and swell. This effect is used to create a sealed container for water, wine or spirits in wooden barrels. Water imbibed by seeds activate enzymes which begin digesting starches stored in the seed. This is the first steps towards germination of the seed.