Investigation Into the Osmotic Potential of Potato Cells.

This essay hasn't yet been marked by one of our teachers

You can view 14 essays on Life Processes & Cells that have been Marked by Teachers

The first 200 words of this essay...

INVESTIGATION INTO THE OSMOTIC POTENTIAL OF POTATO CELLS.

Aim:

To find the exact concentration at which there is no net osmosis in potato cells.

Relevant Information:

Osmosis - the diffusion of water molecules through a partially permeable cell membrane down a water potential gradient.

Osmosis is the main biological idea that will be looked at in this investigation, both how it travels in and out of cells, and the effect this has on the cells. Osmosis occurs mainly when there are two areas containing water molecules at different concentration, it moves from areas of high water molecule concentration to areas of low concentration. It has to occur through a partially permeable membrane, such as a cell membrane, as it allows small molecules through, like water molecules, but not larger ones such a glucose molecules.

In the diagram above the direction in which there is most water flow is from left to right. This means that the net diffusion is in this direction. The reason that it is in this direction is that there are a larger amount of free water molecules on the left-hand side than there are on the right, as the water