Science 10 Pre-IB Biology Lab - Osmotic Relationships

Due date:

Problem: What is the relationship between change in mass and concentration of sucrose solution surrounding 0.70 cm
long pieces of potato?

Pre-Lab: Given a 1.0mol/L solution of sucrose, describe a detailed method (in step form) to create each concentration
from 0.0mol/L to 1.0mol/L, in 0.2mol/L intervals. 10.00mL will be your final volume for each. Show sample calculations
for the uncertainty of one of your diluted samples (not 0.0 mol/L or 1.0mol/L).

Recall your dilution information from Chem 20. You will be using the materials available below.

Background: Minimum 2 paragraphs. Maximum one page. Write this AFTER you complete the lab.

Variables: Identify the manipulated, responding and controlled: (list as many as possible)

Materials:
6 x test tubes
1 x 50.0mL 1.0mol/L sucrose solution
1 x ruler (with millimeter increments)
1 x 10.00 mL graduated cylinder (uncertainty of ±0.05mL)
6 x stoppers
1 x potato
1 x electronic balance
1 x cork borer
1 x scalpel
1 x cutting board
1 x 1.0 L distilled water

Procedure:
DAY 1
1. Label 6 test tubes with sucrose concentrations 0.0 mol/L to 1.0 mol/L increasing by 0.2mol/L.
2. Obtain 50mL of water in a small beaker and 50mL of sucrose solution in a second beaker.
3. Use your pre-lab to create your desired concentrations. Add these to each of the labelled test tubes.
4. Using a cork borer, cut out 6 uniform pieces of potato and cut to 0.7 cm in length using a scalpel. BE VERY
CAREFUL WITH THE SCALPEL!
5. Use a balance to measure the mass of one piece of potato. Record this as the initial mass.
6. Gently squeeze the potato piece and record the firmness of the potato.
7. Place a potato piece into the first test tube.
8. Repeat steps 5-7 for the remaining pieces of potato. Record the mass for each potato before placing them into the
test tubes as well as the firmness.
9. Place the test tubes in a rack, cover with a piece of foil and leave for 24 hours.

DAY 2
10. Remove the potato pieces, dry off and measure the mass of each piece on a balance.
11. Record the final mass of the potato pieces.
12. Gently squeeze the potato piece and record the firmness of the potato pieces.

Observations: Construct data tables to record raw qualitative and quantitative information from the lab.
On day 2, record raw class data for other groups and combine this with your data. You will calculate the % change in
mass after recording the raw mass data.

Sample Calculations: Do sample calculations for the value of change in mass, the value for percent change mass, and the
uncertainty (standard deviation) of percent change of mass.
Analysis: (you don’t need to number these)
1. Calculate the percent change in mass of the potato for each concentration. Show one sample calculation of each
type. Also include the standard deviation of each concentration.
%Δm = ((mfinal - minitial) / minitial ) * 100%
2. Plot percent change in mass versus concentration of solution (including SD vertical error bars)
3. Describe and interpret the graph (do not include reasoning here, just general trends in the data. Ie. if any error
bars overlap then they are not statistically relevant)

Note: You do NOT need to include the AU of the concentration values for this lab or the AU for % change in mass.
You will use Standard Deviation for error bars in this lab.

Conclusion: Answer the problem and compare the results to what was expected. Include any sources of error as well as
possible suggestions to improve your experiment. Summarize what you did during the lab and talk about your results in
general quantitatively (slope, graph shape, etc) and qualitatively (Ie. From your data and graph, which solutions were
hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic to the cell? How do you know?). Other results include: any variations (or lack
thereof) in your data and how that helps or hurts your ability to make a confident conclusion. Reference your error bars
(did all your slope lines go through all error boxes?) and what that means. Also talk about whether your results are what
you expected. 

You will be assessed using the following IB rubric (ATTACH THIS WITH YOUR PRINTED LAB – this is an individual
report):

Name: _________________________________

6-5
The topic of the investigation is identified
and a relevant and fully focused research
question is clearly described.
The background information provided for
the investigation is entirely appropriate and
relevant and enhances the understanding
of the context of the investigation.
The methodology of the investigation is
highly appropriate to address the research
question because it takes into
consideration all, or nearly all, of the
significant factors that may influence the
relevance, reliability and sufficiency of the
collected data.
Exploration (6 marks)
4-3
The topic of the investigation is identified
and a relevant but not fully focused
research question is described.
The background information provided for
the investigation is mainly appropriate and
relevant and aids the understanding of the
context of the investigation.
The methodology of the investigation is
mainly appropriate to address the research
question but has limitations since it takes
into consideration only some of the
significant factors that may influence the
relevance, reliability and sufficiency of the
collected data.
2-1 0
The topic of the investigation is identified The student's report does not reach a
and a research question of some standard described by the previous
relevance is stated but it is not focused descriptors.
The background information provided for
the investigation is superficial or of limited
relevance and does not aid the
understanding of the context of the
investigation.
The methodology of the investigation is
only appropriate to address the research
question to a very limited extent since it
takes into consideration few of the
significant factors that may influence the
relevance, reliability and sufficiency of the
collected data.

6-5
A detailed conclusion is described and
justified which is entirely relevant to the
research question and fully supported by
the data presented.
A conclusion is correctly described and
justified through relevant comparison to
the accepted scientific context.
Strengths and weaknesses of the
investigation, such as limitations of the
data and sources of error, are discussed
and provide evidence of a clear
understanding of the methodological
issues involved in establishing the
conclusion.
The student has discussed realistic and
relevant suggestions for the improvement
and extension of the investigation
Evaluation (6 marks)
4-3
A conclusion is described which is relevant
to the research question and supported by
the data presented
A conclusion is described which makes
some relevant comparison to the accepted
scientific context.
Strengths and weaknesses of the
investigation, such as limitations of the
data and sources of error, are described
and provide evidence of some awareness
of the methodological issues involved in
establishing the conclusion.
The student has described some realistic
and relevant suggestions for the
improvement and extension of the
investigation.
2-1 0
A conclusion is outlined which is not The student's report does not reach a
relevant to the research question or is not standard described by the previous
supported by the data presented. descriptors.
The conclusion makes superficial
comparison to the accepted scientific
context
Strengths and weaknesses of the
investigation, such as limitations of the
data and sources of error, are outlined but
are restricted to an account of the practical
or procedural issues faced.
The student has outlined very few realistic
and relevant suggestions for the
improvement and extension of the
investigation.

TOTAL: ________/12