Osmosis in Plant Cells

Osmosis in Plant Cells

Osmosis the diffusion of water molecules, during osmosis molecules

move from a low sugar/salt concentration to a high sugar/salt

concentration through a semi-permeable membrane. In this experiment, I

am examining osmosis in plant cells. I am using potato chips because

potatoes contain catalysts. My experiment involves soaking potato

chips in different strengths of glucose solution to see if the mass of

the potato chip changes. I predict that the mass will change according

to the strength of the solution, as the strength of the solution

increases the potatoes mass will decrease. This is because of osmosis,

each plant cell contains a vacuole, and this filled with cell sap,

which has its own solution strength. If the glucose solution I am

soaking it in has a lower solution that the cell sap I will expect the

potato chip to swell and increase in mass, if it has a higher solution

then the potato chip should shrink. If the solution is the same

strength as the potato piece then it is likely there will be no

difference in mass.

To carry out this experiment I will need:

Ÿ A potato

Ÿ A knife: To cut the potato.

Ÿ A ruler: To make sure all the potato pieces are the cut same length.

Ÿ Different strengths of sugar solution, ranging from 0.2m to 1m.

Ÿ Beakers: to keep the sugar solution in,

Ÿ Filter paper: to blot the potato pieces on.

Ÿ Scales: to weigh the initial and final mass of the potatoes.

Ÿ 100ml measuring cylinder.

I need to clean up any spillages and be careful with glassware

(breakages) as safety precautions. I also should be careful when using

the knife to cut the potatoes.

Method:

Ÿ Cut five pieces of potato, each 5cm long.

Ÿ Weigh each piece and record the results.

Ÿ Put a one potato chip in each beaker, containing the sugar solution.

Ÿ Soak for one hour and 30 minutes.

Ÿ Take out the potato pieces and blot them on the filter paper to