Ms.

K Bhagaloo Chemistry

Chemistry
Skill: Analysis and Interpretation.
Topic: Osmosis

Aim: To observe osmosis in potato or pawpaw strips.

Apparatus and materials:

Potato or paw paw strips
Water
Beakers
15g Sugar
15g Salt
ruler
Forceps

Procedure:
1. Wash and dry apparatus before using.
2. Fill 3 beakers with the 30cm3 water and label them A, B and C.
3. Beaker A contains water only.
4. To beaker B add 15g of sugar and stir until it dissolves.
5. To beaker C add 15g of salt and stir until it dissolves.
6. Cut 3 strips from the potato or pawpaw with dimensions 4 cm long by 1cm wide
7. Measure and record the size of each strip in a table below.
8. Place each strip into the beakers A, B and C and leave for 24 hours.
9. After 24 hours remove the strips from each beaker and measure them again,
10. Record the new measurements in the table also record your observations about how the
strips looked and felt when removed from the beakers.

Diagram: draw your diagram of the setup here.

Results & Data Analysis

Fill out the table below
Strip Beake Initial Condition Length Description Description after
r length/c placed in after 24 before going removal from
m hours into beaker beaker
/cm
1 A Pure water
2 B Sugar
solution
3 C Salt
solution

How did the size change in each case compared to the initial size of the strip?
Ms. K Bhagaloo Chemistry

1)
2)
3)

Explain what caused the change in size in pure water.

Explain what caused the change in size in sugar solution.

Explain what caused the change in size in salt solution.

What acts as the semipermeable membrane in the potato or pawpaw strips?

Source of error:
Give one source of error that can prevent you from getting accurate results. 1 mark

Precautions:
Give one precaution taken to obtain accurate results. 1 mark

Conclusion: State how you knew osmosis was taking place

Reflection: write what you learned or what became clearer to you after doing the lab and
analysis.