This is an experiment to find out what factors affect osmosis in potato chips.

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Osmosis Coursework

Introduction

This is an experiment to find out what factors affect osmosis in potato chips.  The experiment will inform us of how osmosis work and how the mass of potato chips change when put in different concentrations of sucrose solution.

Equipment

The equipment needed to carry out this experiment successfully and accurately

  1. Test Tube Holder- To hold the test tubes whilst the experiment is happening
  2. Boiling Tubes x6- To hold the potato and solution
  3. Top Pan Balance- To measure the potato chips’ mass accurately
  4. Potato(s)- The use as the carrier of the product of osmosis
  5. Scalpel- To cut up the potato chips
  6. Large Knife- To peel the potatoes and to assist in cutting them into chips
  7. Tweezers- To move the potato chips
  8. Tissues- To blot excess water
  9. Pipette- To transfer solutions
  10. Sucrose Solution- The variable. Solutions needed in concentrations of 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 and 1.0
  11. Distilled Water- (used as the value 0.0 concentration.)
  12. Chopping Board- To chop up the potato
  13. Goggles- To protect our eyes from harmful substances
  14. Measuring Cylinder- To measure out the amount of solution accurately
  15. Calculator- To calculate the percentage mass change

Diagram showing how some of the apparatus will be used.

Measurements

We are going to weigh the potato chips before they are put in the varied sucrose solution and then after and calculate the total percentage mass change.  I feel that the accuracy of the investigation and the simplicity would be jeopardised if we chose just to try and get the weight of the potato chips the same before putting them in the solution and then getting a weight difference after.  There fore it will be easier and more accurate to get a percentage change figure.

The potato chips will be measured accurately using a top pan balance before the experiment. They will be measured to 2d.p. and then measured a second time after the experiment and then using both figures we will calculate the percentage change.  All measurements will be using the unit mol dm-3 .

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Prediction

In my experiment my prediction is that the lower the concentration of the sucrose solution the higher the amount of increased mass of potato chip.   I think that the mass will increase because of the process of osmosis.

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from a region of high water concentration to a region of low water concentration.

The potato has a low concentration of water whilst the solutions have a high concentration (although this is varied). Because of water potential osmosis allows water into the potato.  The semi permeable membrane only ...

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Overall a reasonably good account of an osmosis investigation with a clear plan and explanations showing a sound understanding of principles. More focus on control variables would have improved the method and better use of precise scientific language would have improved the quality.