Potato Osmosis Lab Worksheet Answers Explained
In this lab, we explored the concept of osmosis using potatoes. Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration through a selectively permeable membrane. In this experiment, we used potatoes to demonstrate osmosis and observe how different concentrations of salt solutions affect the movement of water in and out of the potato cells.
Materials and Procedure
The following materials were used in this experiment:
- Potatoes
- Three small cups or containers
- Distilled water
- Salt
- A balance or scale
- A timer or clock
The procedure for this experiment was as follows:
- Cut three identical potato pieces and weigh them using a balance or scale.
- Place each potato piece in a separate cup or container.
- Fill one cup with distilled water, one cup with a 10% salt solution, and one cup with a 20% salt solution.
- Label each cup with the corresponding solution.
- Record the initial weight of each potato piece and the corresponding solution.
- Let the potato pieces sit in the solutions for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- After the time has passed, remove the potato pieces from the solutions and weigh them again.
- Record the final weight of each potato piece and the corresponding solution.
Results and Discussion
The results of this experiment are as follows:
| Solution | Initial Weight (g) | Final Weight (g) | Change in Weight (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distilled Water | 50 | 60 | +10 |
| 10% Salt Solution | 50 | 45 | -5 |
| 20% Salt Solution | 50 | 40 | -10 |
As shown in the table, the potato piece in the distilled water solution gained weight, while the potato pieces in the salt solutions lost weight. This is because the distilled water solution had a higher concentration of water molecules than the potato cells, causing water to move into the cells through osmosis. In contrast, the salt solutions had a lower concentration of water molecules than the potato cells, causing water to move out of the cells through osmosis.
Notes
📝 Note: The exact weights and changes in weight may vary depending on the specific experiment and materials used.
Conclusion
In this experiment, we demonstrated the concept of osmosis using potatoes and observed how different concentrations of salt solutions affect the movement of water in and out of the potato cells. The results showed that the potato piece in the distilled water solution gained weight, while the potato pieces in the salt solutions lost weight. This is due to the movement of water molecules through osmosis, which is an important biological process that helps regulate the balance of fluids within living organisms.
What is osmosis?
+Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration through a selectively permeable membrane.
What happened to the potato piece in the distilled water solution?
+The potato piece in the distilled water solution gained weight due to the movement of water molecules into the cells through osmosis.
What happened to the potato pieces in the salt solutions?
+The potato pieces in the salt solutions lost weight due to the movement of water molecules out of the cells through osmosis.
Related Terms:
- Potato osmosis experiment lab Report
- Potato osmosis experiment observations PDF
- Potato osmosis experiment conclusion
- Potato osmosis experiment procedure
