Investigating the Concentration of Water in Potato Cells Through Osmosis

Investigating the Concentration of Water in Potato Cells Through Osmosis

Introduction

Osmosis is defined as the movement of water molecules from an area of

high water concentration to an area of low water concentration, across

a semi-permeable membrane. I will be experimenting to find the

concentration of water in potato cells through Osmosis.

Aim

The aim of this investigation is to analyze and experiment in order to

study the concentration of water in potato cells through Osmosis.

Osmosis is the passage of water through a semi-permeable membrane from

a region of high water concentration to a region of lower water

concentration. I am going to find this out by placing pieces of

potato, each the same length and weight in 5 different test tubes with

different concentrations of sugar solution and distilled water. I will

be weighing and measuring the size of the potato pieces after being in

these solutions for 24 hours.

Apparatus

â— 5 test tubes

â— 5 potato slices (each with the length of 7.5cm and weighing roughly

1.53g)

â— Scales

â— Ruler

â— Scalpel

◠50cm³ distilled water

◠50cm³ sugar solution

â— Tweezers

â— Pen & paper

â— Plate

Method

Using the scalpel and plate to cute 5 potato slices that are each the

length of 7.5cm (measured using the ruler) and that each weigh 1.53g

(measured using the scales).

The potato slices will each be put into a solution of distilled water

and sugar solution, in different test tubes. The amount of water and

sugar solution in each varies (as shown in table).

The potato slices are measured and weighed to ensure this test is as

fair as possible.

Then the test tubes are labeled correctly to ensure I know the

solution amounts in each. The test tubes and solutions are then left

for 24 hours and checked on after 24 hours time, where they are

measured and weighed again and the results are recorded and put into a