Page # Lab # YY MM DD

21 11 16

Name: Sameer Shakoor

Title: Osmosis

Aim: To observe some effects of osmosis

Material: Potato, salt, and Water

Equipment: Petri Dish, Beaker, tweezers, knife, ceramic tile, and a ruler

Diagram:

FOR TEACHERS ONLY

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MARK OBTAINED 10
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Method/Procedure:

1. Peel Potatoes and cut into strips 1 cm2 and 3 cm long

2. Measure the length of each as accurately as you can
3. Rub potato strips between fingers to assess their texture
4. Put each potato strip into a petri dish. Cover one with clean water and the other with a
strong solution of sodium chloride (common table salt)
5. Leave the potato strips in their dishes for 15 minutes
6. Remove the potato strips, dry them, and measure the length of each as accurately as
you can
7. Note the texture of the potato strips
8. Record your observations in a table

Results/Observation:

It was observed that the potato in the clean water swelled, and was very turgid and
increased in length. The water molecules moved from an area of high concentration to an
area of low concentration. Since the potato had a lower water concentration than the plain
water, the plain water moved into the potato resulting in the swelling of the potato.
However, the potato in the salt solution shrunk, and was flexible. This was because the
potato had a higher concentration of water than the salt solution, Therefore, water moved
out of the potato resulting in a shrinkage.

First texture Final texture First length Final length Change in length %

Water Turgid Turgid 3cm 3.2 cm 6.6%

Salt Solution Turgid Flexible 3cm 3cm 0%

FOR TEACHERS ONLY

SKILLS ASSESED ORR D M/M A/I P/D

MARK OBTAINED 10
 Page # Lab # YY MM DD
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Discussion:

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from an area of high concentration, to n

area of low concentration, the potato had a low concentration of water by default. When
it was submerged into the distilled water, the water moved into the potato and resulted in
a swelling. The salt solution had a lower concentration of water compared to the potato,
therefore water moved out from the area which had high concentration (the potato) and
moved to an area with low concentration (the salt water). This resulted in a shrinkage and
the potato was flexible.

Reflection:

In this experiment I learned a lot about what osmosis is, and its importance in life here on
earth. I also observed how osmosis is present in cells and its importance in the human
body for daily life. A real life example of osmosis is that it is needed for plants to
survive, the roots of the plant absorb water and acts a semipermeable barrier, which
allows water molecules to transfer from high concentration (soil) to low concentration
(roots).

Conclusion:

It can be concluded that Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from an area of
high concentration to an area of low concentration.

FOR TEACHERS ONLY

SKILLS ASSESED ORR D M/M A/I P/D

MARK OBTAINED 10