Effects of Varying Concentrations of Solutions On the Potatoes Lab Report

Effects of Varying Concentrations of Solutions On the Potatoes Lab Report
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Title: Effects of varying concentrations of solutions on the potatoes
Introduction
Osmosis is defined as the movement of molecules of water from high concentration to
low concentration through a semipermeable membrane (Owusu-Agyeman, Reinwald,
Jeihanipour, & Schäfer, 2019, p. 48). This is caused by the concentrations differences on the two
sides of membrane. Osmosis occurs in both plants and animals. For example, in human beings,
osmosis occurs majorly in the glomerulus of human kidneys. On the other hand, osmosis occurs
everywhere within the plant cells. The process of osmosis can be shown experimentally using a
potato and salt/glucose solutions. Osmotic pressure such as isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic
manipulate the direction of the movement of water molecules (Rastogi, 2018, p. 86).
Importance of Osmosis in Plants
1. Plants need osmosis to absorb water from the soil for survival.
2. Plant cells are also able to absorb water though osmosis, become turgid thus remain
upright.
Importance of Osmosis in Animals
1. Keeping the ion concentration balanced between the internal and external environment of
the cells

2. Facilitating the transport of water molecules through capillaries to each cell in a body to
keep the cells firm, healthy, and functional
3. Osmoregulation process in human kidneys is facilitated by osmosis.
Osmosis in Plants
The environment surrounding the plant cells is always hypotonic and the plant cells tend
to have more concentrated fluids than the surrounding environment ("Reverse Osmosis," 2019,
p.98). This facilitates the movement of water molecules from the environment into the cells thus
raising the turgor pressure. This makes the plant cells and tissues rigid thus able to stand upright.
On the other hand, assuming the plant cells are in hypotonic environment, all the water would
leave the plant cells causing plasmolysis (Wang & Wang, 2019, p. 38). However, if the plants
are in isotonic environment, the cells would turn flaccid and wilt.
Osmosis in Animal cells
If an animal cell is placed in hypotonic solution, it would start absorbing water and later
burst, unlike the plant cells, animal cells lack the cell wall to prevent the cells from bursting
(Sivertsen, Holt, & Thelin, 2018, p. 39). While if the animal cells are placed in hypertonic
solutions, the cells would start diffusing water out and later shrivels. This explains why animal
cells should be kept constantly in an isotonic environment, otherwise, the animal cell would
either burst or shrivel (Zhang, Cheng, & Yang, 2014, p. 44).
Hypothesis, Aims and Objectives
Hypothesis: Osmosis is controlled by concentration of the solutions. The size and the mass of
the potato strips would reduce when submerged in a highly concentrated sucrose solution since
water inside the potato cells would leave out to create an equilibrium condition. On the other

hand, if the cells are placed in low concentrated sucrose solution, its size and mass would
increase and become turgid and rigid (Altaee, Zaragoza, & Van Tonningen, 2014, p.52). These
natural osmotic pressures that determine the movement of water molecules are hypo-osmotic,
hyperosmotic and isosmotic. It has been proven experimentally that the movement of water
molecules is from the hyperosmotic solution to hypo-osmotic solution order to achieve isosmotic
solution where both sides of semipermeable membrane have equal amount of sucrose solutions
(Ismail, Khulbe, & Matsuura, 2019, p.98).
Aim: To investigate the effect of osmosis in potatoes placed in solutions with varying
concentrations
Objectives
1. Be able to prepare series of dilutions accurately and calculate molarities
2. To observe correctly and analyze the effects on potato placed in solutions with different
concentrations and to be able to conclude effectively.
3. To be able to produce calibration curve to estimate the water potential of potato tissue.
4. To gain knowledge and understanding of water movement by osmosis and be able to
describe the term hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic.
Method 2nd Experiment
Equipment
 Potatoes (strips)
 number 6 Cork borer
 balances/weigh scale
 water bath