How Osmosis Affects A Potato.

The table above shows the weight of the potato.

Prediction

I predict that the weight of the potato in the sugar solution will go down and the weight of the water will decrease because the water molecules in the sugar solution are small enough to diffuse through a semi-permeable membrane in the potato is the high concentration of water and water will only go through from a high concentration to a low concentration of water. Water goes into a potato sample because there is a higher concentration of water out side the potato than inside of the potato and water will go from a high concentration to a low concentration therefore the water will go into the potato and it will weigh more. Osmosis is the passage of water molecules from a weaker solution into a stronger solution, through a partially permeable membrane.  In this case, the tiny holes in the membrane of the potatoes will allow the water molecules to pass through in and out of the solution and the potato, depending on the concentration gradient of the two substances.  So in this case, when the water concentration is lower, the water will go inside the potato, and the potato will gain mass.  If there is very little different in the two water concentrations, there shouldn’t be such a big change in mass. Also if there is a higher concentration of water in the potato, then the water will go out of the potato and into the liquid solution, as osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration, through a partially permeable membrane.

Apparatus: - Test tubes

• Tweezers
• Apple corer
• Test tube rack
• Labels and pen for test tubes
• Balance
• Scalpel for cutting potato samples
• Beakers for measuring solutions

-    Tissue for drying potato samples