Name: Kristina Bianca V. Melendres Date Performed: Sept.

13, 2022
Course/Section: BsBio3 Date Submitted: Sept 14, 2022
Score: _____________

EXERCISE NO. 1
DEMONSTRATION OF OSMOSIS

Learning Objectives

At the end of the activity, the students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate the phenomenon of Osmosis.

2. Differentiate endosmosis from exosmosis.

Concept

Osmosis is a phenomenon in which water moves from high solvent to low solvent
concentration. The movement of water occurs between two compartments, separated by a
semipermeable membrane. The cell membrane of living organisms behaves as a
semipermeable or selective membrane. The permeability of a selective membrane differs
based on the size, charge and mass of different molecules.

Biological membranes are impermeable to large biomolecules and polar molecules

like ions. But, non-polar molecules (lipids) and small molecules (oxygen, carbon dioxide etc.)
can cross the selective barrier.

Water is the solvent that travels down or up the cell concentration gradient through
osmosis. We can study water diffusion by creating two compartments and a semipermeable
membrane in between.

The difference in the concentration of solutes or solvents between two compartments

is the driving force responsible for water movement. Here, we need to note that only solvent
can pass the selective barrier, not solutes.

Thus, the diffusion or distribution of water is related to osmosis. This post describes
the meaning, requirements, procedure and results of the potato osmometer experiment.

Materials

Peeled off potato Knife

Pure water Concentrated sugar solution
Petri plate Pins
Procedure

1. First, peel off the large-sized potato using a peeler or knife.

2. Then cut the upper and lower portions of the peeled potato using a knife. Through this
step, we can easily place the potato on the alternative Petri plate.
3. Using a knife, make a cavity from the centre of the potato deep into the bottom,
leaving some space. Here, the bottom of the potato will function as a selective
membrane.
4. Then, keep the potato on the alternative Petri plate.
5. To study endosmosis, pour water into half of the alternative Petri plate. Next, pour
concentrated sugar solution into half of the cavity created in the potato.
6. To study exosmosis, add concentrated sugar solution on the alternative Petri plate and
water into the cavity of the potato tuber.
7. Then, fix a pin into the potato tuber-A and B to mark the level of sugar solution and
water added into the cavity.
8. Leave the plate undisturbed for some time until you notice any change.

Questions

1. What happened to the level of sugar solution in the cavity of potato tuber A? Why?
(Include a picture of your experiment result)

- The sugar solution inside the cavity of tuber A slowly increased overtime. This is
because the water moved towards the sugar solution because the water is a high
solvent concentration and sugar solution is a low solvent concentration. This
process is called endosmosis.
 2. What happened to the level of water in the cavity of the potato tuber B? Why?

(Include a picture of your experiment result)

- The level of water in the cavity of tuber B slowly decreased overtime because this
time, the water, a high solvent concentration, moves outward since the sugar
solution, a low solvent concentration, is outside. This process is called exosmosis.

3. Differentiate endosmosis from exosmosis.

- Endosmosis is the movement of high solvent concentration and low solute
concentration inward through a semi permeable membrane where an area has
lower solvent concentration and high solute concentration just like what happened
in potato tuber A.
- Exosmosis is the movement of the high solvent concentration and low solute
concentration outward through a semi permeable membrane where an area has
lower solvent concentration and high solute concentration. Perfect example of this
is potato tuber B.

Photodocumentation

Provide pictures on each step you make while doing this activity.

1. First, peel off the large-sized potato using a peeler or knife.

2. Then cut the upper and lower portions of the peeled potato using a knife. Through this
step, we can easily place the potato on the alternative Petri plate.
4. Using a knife, make a cavity from the centre of the potato deep into the bottom,
leaving some space. Here, the bottom of the potato will function as a selective
membrane.

5. Then, keep the potato on the alternative Petri plate.

6. To study endosmosis, pour water into half of the alternative Petri plate. Next, pour
concentrated sugar solution into half of the cavity created in the potato.

7. To study exosmosis, add concentrated sugar solution on the alternative Petri plate and
water into the cavity of the potato tuber.

8. Then, fix a pin into the potato tuber-A and B to mark the level of sugar solution and
water added into the cavity.
9. Leave the plate undisturbed for some time until you notice any change.