ACTIVITY 3
OSMOSIS
Introduction
Osmosis is the process in which solvent molecules move from an area of lower solute
concentration to an area of higher solute concentration, can easily be demonstrated with potato
experiments. Potatoes are full of both water and starch, and will gain water when immersed in
watery solutions. Conversely, they will lose water when in concentrated solutions, such as those
containing a great deal of starch. You can use potatoes to set up osmosis experiments for students
of all ages and levels.
Objectives:
After the activity, the students must be able to:
a) Discuss what happens to the cell when it is exposed to a hypotonic, isotonic and
hypertonic solutions;
b) Determine the external characteristics of the potato strips placed on different solutions.
Materials:
A potato, salt, distilled water, 3 drinking glasses
Procedure:
1. Fill three glasses with water.
2. In one of the glasses add 2-3 tablespoons of salt, in another glass add 2-3 tablespoons of
sugar and stir it in. Leave the third glass with water only.
3. Slice up a potato into French fry-like pieces.
4. Place each potato slice into each of the solutions, and leave the slices in the solutions for a
half hour.
5. Make your observations on these pieces: pay attention to color, how flexible it is, smell, etc.
6. Take a guess about how you think these slices might change by putting them into the different
types of water
7. Remove the pieces onto a plate and make your final observations
OBSERVATIONS:
Write your observations on the potato placed on each solution.
A. Potato in distilled water
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B. Potato in distilled water plus salt
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C. Potato in distilled water with sugar
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GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. Why did some potato samples gain water and others lose water? Was there any pattern?
2. What happens when a thirsty person drinks salt water to try to quench their thirst?
3. What happens to a cell's water when the exterior liquid is saltier than its interior?
4. What happens to water outside the cell when the interior is saltier than its surroundings?
5. When a cell gains water, what happens to its size and weight?
6. When a cell loses water, what happens to its size and weight?
7. When you put limp celery stalks in water, they firm up. Why?
8. Challenge question: Saltwater fish are hypotonic (less salty) to their surroundings while
freshwater fish are hypertonic (more salty) to their surroundings. Assuming the salt can't move,
what must each fish do with its fluids in order to compensate for the difference in salinity
between the body and the surrounding environment?