Looking at how concentration affects the movement of water particles through a partially permeable membrane

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

You can view 35 essays on Life Processes & Cells that have been Marked by Teachers

The first 200 words of this essay...

Investigating how Concentration affects Osmosis?

Aim

Looking at how concentration affects the movement of water particles through a partially permeable membrane

Prediction

I predict that when the potato is submerged into highly concentrated sugar solution the mass will decrease. However, when the potato is submerged into plain water the mass will increase. I predict that relationship between the pure water will be linear however the relationship between the sugar solution will be a smooth curve.

Scientific background

Diffusion

Diffusion is the process by which a substance moves from a region of high concentration of that substance to a region of low concentration of the same substance. Diffusion occurs because the molecules of which substance s are made in random motion (kinetic theory). The rate of diffusion depends upon:

1. The concentration Gradient - The greater the difference in concentration between two regions of a substance the greater the rate of diffusion. Organisms must therefore maintain a fresh supply of a substance to be absorbed by creating a stream over the diffusion transported away.

2. The distance over which diffusion takes place - The shorter the distance between two regions