osmosis in potato cell

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OSMOSIS IN POTATO CELLS

Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecule of water through a partially permeable cell membrane from a high concentration of water to a low concentration. It is a type of passive transportation as it does not require the expenditure of energy.  This means that water will travel across a partially permeable membrane (ppm) from an area of high water concentration to an area of low concentration until the concentration in both areas is equal. Osmosis happens in plants and animals and its participation is essential in various biological processes which take place in our organism such as the absorption of water from fluids.

In this experiment we deal with plant cells which are those found in potatoes. According to the theory which osmosis presents, of the concentration of water is greater on the inside of cells, water molecules will go across the partially permeable membrane. This will reduce the volume of cells because they contain less water and thus they will shrink. If, on the other hand, the concentration of water is greater on the outside of cells, they will go across the membrane and inside the cells. This change in volume contained in the cells will make them go turgid and it is only the cell wall which will prevent the potato cell from bursting.

Observations:

All potato samples before being placed in a solution were all smooth and humid to touch, showing a hard but still flexible and somewhat malleable (bendy) consistency yet fragile. Their colour was of a pale yellow.

As these samples were placed in a test tube they showed very small bubble on their surface area n contact with water which did not, however, affect the results shown after the experiment. It was appreciated that those potato samples in the 0.6 M solution and 0.9 M solution concentrations floated in the beakers whilst the other samples, did not.

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The characteristics observed of the different potato samples after 35 minutes in solution are shown below:

Results:

The following table shows the results from the data collected regarding the weight of the potatoes before and after they undergo the process of osmosis and showing this relationship clearly in the last columns, where the percentage change is calculated:

The graph below portrays the results of the last columns of the graph (the percentage change from the original weight) in all solution concentrations and a best fit line:

The following graph shows all sucrose concentration data with the purpose ...

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