Title: Osmosis

Theory

Osmosis is a process of movement of solvents through a semi-permeable membrane from a

region of lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration. Hypotonic solution refers
to a solution containing a lower amount of solute in comparison to the solute concentration in
other solutions, across a semipermeable membrane. A hypotonic solution example is salt
water. A solution will be hypertonic to a cell if its solute concentration is higher than that
inside the cell, and the solutes cannot cross the membrane. For example, when one is severely
dehydrated the red blood cells can be in a hypertonic environment. This causes the cells to
shrivel and can even lead to cell death. An isotonic solution is defined as two solutions of
equal concentrations of solutes and water separated by a semipermeable membrane to allow
water to move freely in and out of a cell. A common example of an isotonic solution is saline
solution and cleaning solutions for contact lenses. Cells react differently in hypotonic,
isotonic, and hypertonic solutions. In a hypotonic solution, water rushes into the cell causing
it to expand or even burst. In an isotonic solution, there is no net flow of water, keeping the
cell stable. In a hypertonic solution, water leaves the cell, causing it to shrivel. These
reactions are due to the semipermeable nature of cell membranes and the concentration of
solutes. Keeping the body’s conditions stable makes it possible for living things to survive.
Osmosis plays an important role in the human body, especially in the gastro-intestinal system
and the kidneys. Osmosis helps get nutrients out of food. It also gets waste products out of
the blood. It ensures the re-absorption of water in the kidney and it plays a crucial role
in osmoregulation and thus is important for homeostasis. It helps in the movement of water
between cells and in the buildup of turgor pressure in plants.

Hypothesis: Higher concentrations of solutions will result in a reduction in mass and length of potato sticks
due to the process of osmosis

Aim: To investigate the effect of salt solutions on the length of potato strips through osmosis

Apparatus: Potato strips, beaker, water, salt, measuring cylinder, thermometer, ruler, clear
plastic, cork borer, scale, paper towel, electronic balance

Method:
 1. Three beakers were labelled as distilled water, 0.5M salt solution and 1M salt solution
2. 50 ml of water was poured into each beaker. The initial temperature of each solution
was measured for each beaker.
3. With the use of a corkborer and razor, six uniform pieces of potato were cut in
uniform sizes. They were of the same length and width.
4. The height and weight of each potato cylinder were measures and the data was
recorded in a table. The texture was also recorded for each cylinder.
5. Two strips of potato strips were placed in each beaker ensuring that both were fully
submerged into each solution.
6. The potato was removed from each cylinder after one hour and they were gently
dried using paper towel.
7. After subjection to different concentrations of salt, the length and mass of each potato
strip was measured. The change in texture was noted.

Variables:

Independent: Concentration of solution

Dependent: Final length of potato strips and mass of potato strips

Controlled: Initial length and mass of potato strips, volume of solutions used.

Results

TABLE SHOWING THE CHANGES IN MASS AND LENGTH OF POTATO STIPS

PLACED IN DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS.

Concentr Initi Final Chan Aver Initial Final Avera Differe Noted
 ation of al Mas ge in age Length Length/ ge nce in changed
salt Mas s/g mass chang of cm length/ length in
solution/ s/g e in Potato/ cm (+ or – texture
M mass cm cm)

0 3.0 3.6 0.6 0.6 5 5.1 5.3 + 0.1 Turgid

and firm
3.0 3.7 0.7 5 5.4 + 0.4

0.5 3.0 2.7 0.3 0.4 5 4.8 4.8 -0.8 Slightly

bendable
3.0 2.6 0.4 5 4.8 -0.8

1 3.0 2.1 0.9 0.9 5 4.1 4.1 -0.9 Flaccid

3.0 2.1 0.9 5 4.0 -10 Plasmol

yzed

Bendabl
e

Calculations

For concentration of salt solution with 0M

Change in mass = Final mass- Initial Mass

= 3.6g-3.0g = 0.6g

Average change in mass

0.6 + 0.7/2 = 0.6g

Average length = 5.1 cm + 5.4 cm/ 2 = 5.3cm

Change in length = Final length- Initial length

= 5.4cm - 5.0cm = 0.4cm

Discussion

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of high concentration of solute to
a region of low concentration of solute through a semipermeable membrane, until equilibrium
is met. In the experiment the semipermeable membrane is the cell membrane of the potato.
The potato strips immersed in the pure water became turgid and firm because pure water is a
hypotonic solution. As a result of this, the average change in mass when the potato strips
were placed in distilled water was 0.6g, the average change in length was 5.3cm. There was a
positive increase of +0.1 and 0.4 respectively. This means the water outside the potato cell is
at a higher concentration than the water inside the potato strip, therefore water moved inside
the cell causing it to become turgid. The potato strips that were placed inside the 0.5M of salt
had an average change in mass of 0.4g. the average change in length was 4.8cm leading it to
a decrease in size with a negative difference in length of -0.8cm for both. This is so because
the salt concentration is higher in the water solution than inside the strip of potato therefore
water moved from out of the potato strip into the water while salt moved into the potato strip.
For the potato sticks placed in 0.5M of salt solution, the average change in mass was 0.9g.
The average change in length was 4.1cm and had a negative difference in length of -0.9cm
and -10cm respectively. This happened because the water that was inside of the potato strips
moved out of it, into the water therefore causing a decrease in length and mass while the salt
particles moved across the cell membrane and into the cell. This led to the cell becoming
flaccid and plasmolyzed. The solution with the greater impact was the potato that was placed
in the 1M of salt solution. The decrease was due to the greater amount of salt present in the
solution therefore the strips were more bendable and plasmolyzed, and water moved out of
the strip into the water causing it to shrink. Also the concentration gradient between the
solution and the potato cells was greater in the 1.0M solution, leading to a higher rate of
water movement out of the cell. At least two potato sticks should be used to give a repeat of
each solution, this is to ensure accuracy. The cell membrane of a potato cell acts as the
partially permeable membrane. It has gaps that are small enough for water molecules to move
through, but too large for salt particles to fit through. Carrot sticks could be used instead of
potato sticks to demonstrate experiment.

Limitations

Variation in plant material: Differences in the composition and thickness of plant tissues may
affect the rate and extent of osmosis.

External factors: Temperature, light exposure, and atmospheric pressure could influence the
rate of osmosis.
Precaution

1. Sharp knife and peeler should be taken with caution to prevent injury.
2. Avoid spills of substances, any spills should be clean at the same time to avoid
accidents.
3. Take caution when transporting glassware or beakers to prevent them from breaking.

Reflection

Osmosis is a fundamental concept of great importance to understanding natural biological,

physical, and chemical processes. Water occupies more than 2/3 of our cell’s volume and is
related to the properties of solutions of energy of Brownian motion. Osmosis occurs when a
solvent and a solution are separated by a selectively permeable membrane resulting in
spontaneous movement of the solvent through the membrane.

Osmosis is important to all living things. One important characteristic of all living things is
that they maintain homeostasis. This means that living organisms maintain a stable internal
environment which allows them to carry on their daily life processes. Osmosis also plays an
important role in the human gastrointestinal system and the kidneys. Osmosis helps to get
nutrients out of food and waste products out of your blood. With the information obtained
from this topic osmosis is very important to living organisms. When you eat food or drink
water, it travels from your mouth, down your oesophagus and into your stomach. In the
stomach, the food is broken into tiny pieces that are mixed with stomach liquids. This mush
of food and stomach liquids is called chyme. The chyme travels into the small intestine. This
is where osmosis takes place.

The chyme has a higher concentration than the epithelial cells that line your intestines. So, in
order to reach homeostasis, water moves into these cells through their semipermeable
membranes, taking small nutrients along with it. Near the epithelial cells are capillaries. The
water and nutrients move through the cells of the capillaries and into the bloodstream.

Initially the experiment started with bigger potato cylinders about 10 cm but results were not
received as the potato strips were too big. As a result, the potato size was decreased as I was
able to see the difference in mass and length. My knowledge of osmosis is now wider, and I
know how important it is. The eight glasses of water recommended by doctor is very crucial
because there needs to be more water than cells. If this happens, your cells will be
dehydrated as water will move out of cell via osmosis. Encouraging family members and
friends to drink water is a main agenda of mine

Conclusion

It was determined by testing potato sticks in pure water and saltwater solution with different
concentrations, that when the salt solution concentration was increased, the potato sticks
experience a large decrease in length due to the occurrence of osmosis.