Osmosis Coursework

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Osmosis Coursework

Planning

Our aim is to understand the process of osmosis and how it works in the cells of living organisms and why it is important to animals and plants. The experiment will be evidence to prove that osmosis is the process of particles from a high concentrated solution to a low concentrated solution by a permeable membrane. While this experiment is taking place, we need to ensure that a fair test is carried out in the safest possible way. The independent variable, which is the variable we will be changing, is the concentration of solution in which the potato will be contained. But I will change it in a controlled and steady pace, for example, increasing the concentration by 0.1 molar. The dependent variable, which is the variable we will be measuring, is the mass of the potato (before and after its placed in the solution). However, in the experiment I will make sure I will change only one variable, so it is kept as fair as possible.

The equipment required to do this experiment are:

  • 5 petri dishes to carry out the different concentrations of solution.
  • 10 small cylinders of potato 2.5cm in length and approximately weighing the same. 5 marked “A”, 5 marked “B”.
  • Scalpel to cut the slices of potato.
  • Cork borer to keep the potatoes the same shape and size.
  • A sensitive weighing machine to weigh the potatoes before and after the experiment.
  • A pair of biceps to hold the potatoes.
  • Stopwatch to keep a measure of how much time each potato gets and making sure it’s the same amount of time for every single one of them to make it fair.
  • Measuring cylinder to make sure the same amount of liquid goes into each petri dish.
  • Salt solution (independent variable) distilled, 0.1 molar, 0.2 molar, 0.5 molar, 1.0 molar.
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 Other factors which contribute to the experiment and could affect it are:

  • Temperature of room or solution- this could affect the speed of osmosis. Therefore we have to make sure the experiment is done in the same room temperature with the solution the same temperature as well.
  • Time- leaving some potatoes in for a longer time than others doesn’t make it a fair test. As a result, we have to put the potatoes in the dishes at the same time or with steady intervals in between.
  • Amount of solution in each petri dish- could affect the speed of ...

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