For my experiment I will use the following: raw potato chips, sucrose solutions of varying concentrations, boiling tubes, balance, drying tissue, knife and cutting board. We will use this tissue to dry off any liquid, and the cutting tile to ensure safety, and make it more convenient to clean. Using a scientific balance will help us to precisely measure the chip weights.
Firstly, we will cut several potato chips of similar size. Because we will use three chips in each concentration, for accuracy, we will need to distinguish between the chips to weigh them. To do this, we will cut one or two grooves into the chip, as shown below.
This will allow us to easily distinguish between chips.
We will then dry off any excess liquids that may affect our data and weigh each individual chip and record its weight. We will then put the different sets of chips into eight different concentrations of sucrose solution, ranging from 0.0 molar, to 0.8 molar. We will then leave the chips to soak overnight in the sucrose solutions.
I will use this method because it allows me to get at least three results for each reading in a convenient way whilst making efficient use of time. This will give me sufficient data to draw graphs, spot patterns and then draw a conclusion. I will use the range of sucrose concentrations as it helps me to get a wider range of results.
In my experiment, the variables I could change are the external solution, the concentration of the solution, the general shape or size of the chip, the temperature of the chip or the temperature of the external solution. I will change the concentration of the solution, and so in order to my experiment a fair test I will keep all other variables constant.
For my prediction, I will make three hypotheses.
Firstly, if the concentration of the potato cytoplasm is lower than that of the sucrose solution, I predict that the mass of the chip will increase. This is because will be less water particles meaning that the potato cytoplasm has a more negative water potential than the sucrose solution. This means that water particles will move from the sucrose solution to the potato cytoplasm, increasing its mass.
Secondly, if the concentration of the potato cytoplasm is the same as the sucrose solution, then the mass will stay the same, because there will be equal amounts of water molecules in both the cytoplasm and sucrose solution, meaning that the net movement of water will be zero, causing no effect to its mass.
Lastly, if the concentration of the potato cytoplasm is higher than the sucrose solution, I predict its mass will decrease. This is because water molecules will have diffused from the cytoplasm to sucrose solution, lowering the mass of the potato cytoplasm.
OBTAINING EVIDENCE
From performing this experiment, I have obtained sufficient and reproducible results that will allow me to spot patterns and draw conclusions from. We used three potato chips in each concentration to prove our results reliable and reproducible.
See table for results, and graph.
(This table was found from ‘Biology – a functional approach’ (Students Manual) 2nd edition 1987. Authors M.B.V Roberts and T.J. King, Publisher: Nelson.)
This table gives the water potential values for sucrose, the sugar used in my experiment. I can use these to give the potato cytoplasm cells a water potential value, rather than just a molarity compared to sucrose. I can draw a graph from these values and get the value in the same way as with the molarity graph.
ANALYSING EVIDENCE
My results show that the potato chip gains mass as the concentration of the sucrose solution reaches 0.2 molarity (precisely 0.21 molar). After this point, the potato chip loses mass up to 0.8 Molar.
My graphs show a strong negative correlation in the results, beginning with a decreasing decrease in mass and then an increasing decrease in mass.
As around 0.2 molar, the potato chip neither gains or loses mass, this indicates to me that there is no net exchange of water, because both the cytoplasm of the potato and the sucrose have equal numbers of water molecules, and so both have the same water potential. No water will move from where there is more to less water, meaning therefore the concentration of water molecules must be the same in both the potato cytoplasm and the sucrose solution. As there is no movement of water into or out of the potato cytoplasm, the mass will stay the same. When the potato cytoplasm was left in 0.2m sucrose solution, the mass did not change. So, from this experiment I can identify the concentration of the potato cytoplasm cells as equal to a 0.2 molar sugar solution. I can also use my water potential value graph to tell me that this is equal to the potato cell cytoplasm having a water potential of approximately -540.
This agrees with my hypotheses, as I predicted that if the concentration of the potato cytoplasm is lower than the sucrose, the mass would increase as a net inward movement of water would occur. Secondly, I predicted that if the concentration of the potato cytoplasm is higher than the sucrose, the mass would decrease as a net outward movement of water would occur. Lastly, I predicted that if the concentration of the potato cytoplasm was the same as the sucrose, the mass would stay the same as the net movement of water would be zero. These were all correct, and also back up my scientific information as true because I was able to use it to make an accurate prediction.
EVALUATING EVIDENCE
In conclusion, I think my experiment was successful as it has allowed me to determine the concentration of the potato cytoplasm cells through osmosis.
I think my results are reliable. We performed the experiment three times at each concentration, to give us a more accurate average and took a wide range of readings. The experiment was kept fair. The procedure we followed made most efficient use of time to allow us tom perform all the experiments safely and to an accurate standard. However, from my graph it appears that the result I have for the percentage change in mass at 0.5 molar is anomalous, lying 3% outside of the line of best fit. This could be due to excess liquid on the potato cell before drying, of faulty equipment.
To improve my experiment and further my research, I could have weighed the potato cells mid way through their soak in the sucrose solution, used a wider range of concentrations or left different potato chips for different periods of time, to determine the effect of the time left in the solution. I could have tried the experiment with a salt solution instead although I think the results would be similar and method the same. Alternatively, I could have found out the usual mass of potato cytoplasm cells and instead monitored the change in mass throughout a set period of time. I could also have varied some of the other factors and see their effect on the outcome of the experiment.