The Effect of Different Concentrations of Sucrose Solutions in Potato Cells

The Effect of Different Concentrations of Sucrose Solutions in Potato Cells

Prediction:

I predict that the potato cylinder that is immersed in distilled water

will increase in size the most out of all the potato cylinders. I

think this because, in this solution there will 10ml of pure water,

no sucrose, which means the potato can absorb the most possible water

through osmosis, there are no molecules that can‘t be absorbed.

Whereas in the other solutions, the sugar molecules won’t be able to

travel through the potato’s membrane because it is semi permeable so

through osmosis, only water molecules can diffuse from the higher

concentration outside the potato to the lower concentration inside the

potato.

Method:

I will prepare 5 identical potato cylinders each measuring 2cm and 5

test tubes filled with different strengths of sucrose solution. One

will contain distilled water, the next will contain 0.2 of sucrose

solution, the third will contain 0.4 of sucrose solution, the fourth

will contain 0.6 and the fifth test tube will contain 0.8 of sucrose

solution. Each cylinder will hold 10ml of the solution (but obviously

each will be of a different concentration). I will put one potato

cylinder into each test tube and leave them in there for 30 minutes.

After this time, I will remove the potato cylinders from the test tube

and measure each one to record any changes in size or shape. I will

repeat the process 3 times in total to ensure a fair test. At the end

once I’ve recorded all my results I will work out an average for each

concentration and plot my results on a graph to compare.

Equipment:

* 15 test tubes in total to contain the potato cylinders in the

different solutions for each test. I have chosen test tubes rather

than say, beakers because they are most practical and economical

by ensuring the potato cylinder is completely immersed in the

solution, not having to waste any solution as may be the case with