I.

Title:
Investigate the effect of different concentration solutions on potato cells.
Date:

II. Background information:

All cells have membranes that are permeable, which means they allow certain
things in. the process by which water crosses membrane regions of high
concentration to regions of low concentration ( or in other words from regions of
low solute concentration to high solute concentration) is called osmosis. It is a
special type of diffusion. In this experiment, we are to investigate and measure the
effect of the movement of water in potato cells through different concentration
solution.

III. Research question:

How do different concentration solutions affect the mass of potato cells?

IV. Variables:

Independent variable: Molarity

Concentration of NaCl
Dependent variable: Using a scale (g) Record the values using
Mass of the potato the same scale.
Controlled variable:
- Size of potato
- Time
- Water

V. Hypothesis:
As the concentration of solution (NaCl) increases the mass of the potato decrease
because water diffuses from a region of high concentration to a region of low
concentration of water.

VI. Equipment /Material list

Equipment: Materials:
- 6 cups - potato slices
- Weighing scale (g) - Salt
- Cutter - 200 ml of water
- stirrer - 50 ml of solution
VII. Diagrams:
VIII. Method:
1. Use a cutter to cut the potato into slices.
2. Fill 6 cups with 200 ml of water, and then arrange the beakers in a line with 6 sets
of potatoes.
3. Then use a pen and label the cups using the molar values ( 0 , 0.2 , 0.4 , 0.6 ,
0.8 ,and 1)
4. Weigh the six groups of potato using a scale, record the result (the weight of the
potatoes before the experiment)
5. After recording, multiply each molar value by 11.69g. The answer give you the
weight of the salt to put in for each cup.
6. Pour the salt and use a stirrer to stir the salt until it is dissolved.
7. After that, put the potatoes in each cup at the same time.
8. Wait for 20 min for the reaction to take over.
9. After 20 min, take the potatoes out from the cup, dry it and then measure its
weight. Record the results (after the experiment)
10. Make a data table for 3 trails.
11. To find the change of mass (in %) use the formula:
Final mass – initial mass / initial mass (× 100%)

IX. Data table:

First trial Concentration Initial mass Final mass Change in mass

Solution (M) (g) (g) Final mass – initial mass/
initial mass (%)
1 0.0 4.4 4.63 5.2
2 0.2 5.0 5.08 1.6
3 0.4 4.5 3.36 -25
4 0.6 4.5 3.07 -32
5 0.8 4.2 2.6 -38
6 1 3.3 2.03 -38

second trial Concentration Initial mass Final mass Change in mass

Solution (M) (g) (g) Final mass – initial mass/
initial mass (%)
1 0.0 4.9 5.6 14
2 0.2 4.4 4.2 -4.5
3 0.4 4.1 2.9 -29
4 0.6 4.8 3.1 -35
5 0.8 4.1 2.4 -41
 6 1 4.9 3.3 -33

third trial Concentration Initial mass Final mass Change in mass

Solution (M) (g) (g) Final mass – initial mass/
initial mass (%)
1 0.0 5.3 5.1 -3
2 0.2 6.3 6.3 0
3 0.4 4.7 3.5 -25.5
4 0.6 6.3 4.2 -33.3
5 0.8 5.2 3.5 -32
6 1 5.0 3.5 -30

X. Processing Data

Solution Trial 1 Trail 2 Trail 3 Average

change in mass
0.0 M 5.2 % 14% -3 % 5.4 %

0.2 M 1.6 % -4.5% 0% -1%

0.4 M -25% -29% -25.5% -26.5%

0.6 M -32% -35% -33% -33.3%

0.8 M -38% -41% -32% -37%

1M -38 % -33% -30% -33.6%

Graph:
 Average of % change in mass
10
5
0
-5 0M 0.2 M 0.4 M 0.6 M 0.8 M 1M
-10 Average of % change in mass
-15
-20
-25
-30
-35
-40