Potato Osmosis Lab Report

THE EFFECT OF OSMOSIS AND DIFFUSION ON POTATO

Ivan Salazar

The Effect of Osmosis and Diffusion on Potato

Anatomy & Physiology Lab 2101-2002

February 7, 2016

The purpose of the Tonicity lab was to help identify the effects of an isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic solution to a slice of potato. The difference between diffusion and osmosis is that diffusion is the movement of particles or molecules from a region of higher concentration to a region of a lower concentration. While osmosis consists of the movement of water molecules through a semipermeable from a region of high water concentration to the region of less water concentration (Major Differences). Tonicity is the ability of a solution to ?alter the internal water volume of a cell? (Difference Between Solution, 2013). An isotonic solution should keep their normal shape; the osmotic pressure outside the cell has the same pressure within the cell. A hypotonic solution, are more dilute and contain a lower concentration of nonpenetrating solutes than cells. In contrast, a hypertonic solution have a higher concentration of

The reason for the mistake was because of not fully grasping the understanding and meaning of a hypertonic and hypotonic solution when exposed to a cell. After the experiment, I realized how different and important it is to have an understanding of each solution and how it can affect cell when exposed.

The experiment was a successful when fulfilling the expectations of the potato slice within the three solutions being mentioned on the previous paragraphs. The results when the potato slices were submerged in the isotonic solution were not surprising; the potato maintained its proper shape and weight. The hypotonic solution resulted in the potato slice to have a much tougher and heavier texture compared to its original state of form. While the potato slice within the hypertonic solution caused it to be flimsy and