EXPERIMENT 33

o s m o s c o p e .

or
o s m o m e t e r

AIM
osmosis by p o t a t o dissectin
To study or edles
water, pins
beaker,

solution,
petri dish,
s u c r o s e
R E Q U I R E M E N T S

10-20%

knife/peeler,

Largepotato; v,(Psi). Water

mau
denoted by trom
water
of added to water, y.. of a
energy are solution
or free solutes
THEORY energy When
zero.
to potential water is
refers
potential yw concentration Go
lower potential. energy.
Water ofpurefree
reduce the high
potential to a region of their solution ) th
from concentrated
its higher solute particles molecules
as Ough
concentration
becomes
negative (i.e.,
movement
of water low reached. A
Net of their equilibrium
is semipermeal
Osmosis to a region state of
solution) till a
membrane molecules oly.
semipermeable movement
of s o l v e n t
a the
membrane
permits

:
osmosis is of two types
Types of Osmosis of cell,
outward
into or solution whose solute concentration
movement of water in a
on the when placed water.
Depending into a cell when placed in
Osmotic inflow of water swelling of raisins
Endosmosis For example, whose solute concentration
cell sap. a solution
is less than when placed in
water from a cell in strong sugar
of when placed
Osmotic outflow shrinkage grapes
Exosmosis For example, of
is more than cell sap.
solution.

Osmosis for Plants maintain turgidity

Importance of of water in plants. (iiü)
Helps to
movement
Cell to cell osmotic pressure of their cells.
of water from soil. (i)
(i) Absorption and frost brought by
Resistance of plants to drought
of plant organs. (iv)
of plant movements.
(v) Involved in many types

PROCEDURE
and cut one end flat.
1. Peel off the outer skin of potato
make a cavity in the centre of the potato.
2. With the help of peeler or scooper, solution in the cavity w
solution and mark the level of sugar
3. Fil half of the cavity of potato with sugar
as osmometer.
the help of a pin or dissecting needle. It functions

Potato
Potato Final pin
Initial pin Initial pin
Sucrose solution
Sucrose solution
Water
* * 4 * - ~ t . - . ' - *
Water
Beaker Beaker
******

Initial level of sucrose in Increase in level of sucrose in

a cavity of potato osmosis
cavity of potato due to

Fig. Potato Osmometer

44 Tagether wth Biology Lab Manual-XI

 a beaker filled with water and then mark the rise
the
4. Leave the osmometer undisturbed for an
hourin
level of sugar solution in the potato with another pin.
in
OBSERVATIONS
The level of sugar solution in the potato cavity rises due to entry of water into sugar solution through selectively
semipermeable membrane of cells of potato.
RESULT
Water moves from beaker into the potato cavity because of difference in water potential between two solutions
L.e., sugar solution and water.
PRECAUTIONS
1. Cavity should be deep enough to keep only a thin layer of tissues at base.
2. Sugar solution should be highly concentrated.
3. Do not damage sides and bottom of osmoscope.