To investigate different concentrations of sucrose, between OM and 1M and to find out how potato chips in the solutions change in mass because of the process of osmosis.

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An Investigation showing how the mass of potato chips changes due to osmosis

PLANNING:

Aim:  To investigate different concentrations of sucrose, between OM and 1M and to      find out how potato chips in the solutions change in mass because of the process of osmosis.

Prediction:  I think that the percentage change in mass of the potato will decrease as the concentration of sucrose in the solution is increased. I think this because “osmosis is the net movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane across a concentration gradient (from a high concentration of water to a low concentration of water)”- .

This means that the holes in the membrane will allow water to pass in and out of the solution and the potato, depending on the concentration gradient of the two substances. In this case, when the water concentration is lower in the tissue, then the water moves into the tissue of the potato. This causes the potato to increase in mass. If there is a lower concentration of water in the potato, then the water moves into the tissue of the potato. This causes the potato to increase in mass. If there is a higher concentration of water in the potato, then the water moves out of the potato.

Water is more concentrated in the potato and therefore the water should transfer to the potato making it heavier in mass. The potato tissues, surrounded by a weak solution, will swell up and become turgid and will take in as much water as possible.

From my prediction, I think that the graph would look something like this:

                 

 

0                                        1

Preliminary

Method:

  • Two test tubes were labelled: 0M and 1M.
  • Two potato chips were then cut out of a potato using a cork borer, making them approximately the same size.
  • The chips were then weighed in order to find the mass.
  • 10cm3 of water was put into the 0M test tube and 10 cm3 of sucrose solution was put into the 1M test tube.
  • After 30 minutes, they were taken out and weighed to check the mass again.

(GRAPH)

From the graph, the results haven’t come out too well. I predict that the rate of osmosis shall decrease in size. Due to this experiment, I know that water moves in and out of the potato and the direction depends on relative concentrations inside and outside the potato.

Join now!

As my graph seems to lie more between the 0M and 0.5M marks, I will do my experiment using that range of data. For example, I will use 0M, 0.1M, 0.2M, 0.3M, 0.4M, 0.5M and 1M. Covering the top may help to prevent evaporation, so in m actual experiment I will cover the test tubes with bungs or cling film. As the preliminary experiment took a long time to set up and to weigh the chips et cetera, I will organise the equipment beforehand and this will save me time and I will be able to carry out the ...

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