0 6.09 2.03
0.25 5.77 1.92
0.5 5.73 1.91
0.75 5.92 1.97
1 5.8 1.93
After experiment
Molar Concentration of sucrose solutions Total Mass(g) Average Mass(g)
0 6.55 2.18
0.25 5.99 2
0.5 5.48 1.83
0.75 5.44 1.81
1 5.19 1.73
Change of Mass
Molar Concentration of sucrose solutions Change in mass; before to after(g) Change in mass; before to after(%)
0 0.15 7.4
0.25 0.08 4.2
0.5 -0.08 -4.2
0.75 -0.15 -7.6
1 -0.2 -10.4
Analysis and Conclusion
This experiment has yielded a graph which proves my point which I explained in my prediction. The graph gives me an excellent set of results. In my experiment the potato in the water had a 6% gain in length. The potato in the 0.2 molar sucrose solution had an increase in length of 2%, the potato in the o.4 molar solution had a increase in length of 1.2 %. The potato in the 0.6 molar solution had an increase of 0.6%, the potato in the 0.8 molar solution decreased by 1.4% and the solution in the 1 molar solution decreased by 2%. These prove that the higher the concentration of water in a cell the more it grows.The results also show that in the distilled water the potato gains in mass by approximently 7.4% then it gains 4.4% in the 0.25M solution. In the 0.5 M solution there is a change, the gradient of the graph decreases steeply and the potato loses mass to 4.4% then in the 0.75M solution the gradient decreases as it loses yet more mass to 10.4%.
Evaluation
I think that the experiment went very well, there were no 'odd' results and they produced a good graph. However there were a few areas where there could be improvement. Firstly, when I dried off the excess water on the potato cylinders after the experiment and before I weighed them, I used a paper towel. This might have either taken some water out of the potato or it might of left some excess water on the potato. This part of the experiment is difficult to come up with an accurate and fair method, as other ways would also lead to some slight mistakes.
Also the potato itself was not definitely from the same potato and was not exactly the same size, although I did try to cut them to 5cm each.
Another way of improving the results would have been to leave the experiment running longer, this would have enabled me to find the saturation point (when the potato can no longer take in any more water) and dehydration point (when the potato cannot lose any more water)and therefore get a more accurate result.
Finally, I could extend the experiment to a more exact level by looking at the potato cylinders under a microscope, then I would be able to see the cells in greater detail and draw some more observational results.
