Potato Osmosis Lab

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Tonicity effects on Plant & Animal Cells In order to understand the concept of the three solutions; hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic, used in the experiment one must learn to understand the concept of how and why molecules move by processes of osmosis. As conducted, this hands-on experiment will help you examine water molecule movement when exposing the plant cell that make up the potato to be either hypertonic or hypotonic solutions. Although, plant cells have rigid cell walls external to the plasma membrane versus animals that do not make a difference that can result in an opposite outcome when being placed in these two solutions. I believe that experiment b (potato mixed with salt and water) will be more affected since it will conflict …show more content…

First of all, I started with the two cups to help provide the separation of the two potato slices and that helped by keeping the different mixed water solutions apart from one another by sitting in the cups. After that, I poured salt into one of the cups to help differentiate the effects in the potato by providing a solution into the water to help see an outcome in the slice. In order to put the right amount of salt into the cup, I also had to measure it in tablespoons to get the exact amount without going over the limited amount of salt needed in the experiment. With that being said, I then used a knife and tape measure to cut the precise size of the potato needed to conduct the experiment in order to fit in the cup. Not including the potato and water itself to explain the different solutions used and created as mixed in together. The results show that the potato becomes hypertonic by affecting its’ tonicity as for the other slice becoming hypotonic leaving no change and creating osmosis.
Tonicity Effects on Plant Cells
Before After Experiment A Experiment B Experiment A Experiment B
Length 7 cm 7 cm 7 cm 6 cm
Width 1.5 cm 1.5 cm 1.5 cm 1.5 cm
Texture Smooth inside, rough outside, with noticeable spots Smooth inside, rough outside, with noticeable spots Smooth

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