The Effect of Osmosis in Potatoes

The Effect of Osmosis in Potatoes

Aim:

The aims of the experiment are:

* To see whether different concentrations of sucrose solution (0%,

0.25%, 0.5%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1%) have effects on the size and weight

of cylinders of potato that are put into them.

* Also I aim to find out which of the concentrations affect the

potato cylinders in size and weight the most and the least.

Prediction:

I predict that the concentration which will affect the size an weight

the least will be 0.5. The 1.0 will lessen the weight of the potato

cylinders but not the size, because there is a higher concentration of

sucrose in it; and therefore a low region of water. I think this

because I think that more water will come out of the cell than into

the cell. The distilled water will add to the to the weight of the

potato cylinder because there is more water in it so that osmosis can

easily occur. Here I think more water will come into the cell than out

of the cell.

Equipment:

Potatoes

Cork Borers

Distilled Water

1M Sugar Solution

Beakers

Measuring Cylinders

Rulers

Timers

Scales

Knife

Paper Towels

Method

Step 1:

Collect and set up equipment as shown in diagram:

[IMAGE]

Step 2:

Cut out 5 cylinders of potato using a cork borer.

Step 3:

Measure and weigh the cylinders.

Step 4:

Pour out 50 ml from five different sucrose solutions into five beakers

the concentrations of:

0% (distilled water), 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.0%

Step 5:

Put cylinders into sucrose solutions.

Step 6:

Leave solutions for 25 minutes.

Step 7:

Take cylinders out, re-measure and re-weigh each potato cylinder.

Step 8:

Redo steps 1-7 two more times.