My aim throughout this investigation is to investigate the movement of Osmosis through a selectively permeable membrane which in this case is a potato chip.

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OSMOSIS IN POTATOES.

My aim throughout this investigation is to investigate the movement of Osmosis through a selectively permeable membrane which in this case is a potato chip.

INTRODUCTION.

    Osmosis is the movement of water through a semi permeable membrane, separating solutions of different concentrations. The water passes through from a high concentration to a place where the concentration is lower.

    Many cell membranes behave as semi permeable membranes, and osmosis is a vital mechanism in the transport of fluids in living organisms i.e in the transport of water from the soil to the roots of a plant.

     If a cell is in contact with a solution of a lower water concentration than its own concentration then the water will leave the cell by osmosis, through the membrane.

    If you put a plant cell into water, water will enter the cell by osmosis and therefore the cell will increase in size and weight. Even though water will enter it will not get to a point where the cell will burst. This is due to the fact that a cell wall is made up of cellulose wich is very strong. At a certain point the cell will stop swelling and when this point is reached we say the cell is turgid. This element of osmosis is very important because this is what makes a plant stem strong enough so that it can be upright.

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OSMOSIS DIAGRAM:

HYPOTHESIS.

    I predict that as the water concentration increases the length and weight of the potato chip will decrease. I believe this because the higher the concentration of the glucose solution the lower the concentration of the water. When the potato chip is put into the solution, it will, by osmosis lose some of it’s water and the water will defuse into the solution of glucose, causing the potato chip to lose water which means that it’s weight and length will decrease.

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