Biology #4

Date: 30/10/2023

Title: Osmosis

Aim: To investigate osmosis in potato cells placed in various solute concentrations.

Apparatus: Measuring cylinder, 1000 ml beaker, 5 petri dishes, 5 petri dish covers, core-borer,
ssssssssssssss250 ml beaker, razor blade, spoon spatula, stopwatch, ruler.
and
Materials: Salt, distilled water, potato.

Method:
1. All apparatuses and materials were cleaned before attempting this experiment.
2. While using the core-borer, 10 strips of the potato were made and measured to 4 cm with
a ruler and set aside.
3. From the calculations, a variety of solutions was made into a 250 ml beaker and then
placed into the petri dish.
4. 2 potato strips were placed into each petri dish and then covered for 20 minutes.
5. After the 20 minutes, the strips were measured and all observations were recorded and
placed into tables.

Theory:
Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to a
region of lower water potential through a partially permeable membrane. Osmosis is considered
in terms of water potential (the energy required, per quantity of water, to transport an
infinitesimal quantity of water from the sample to a reference pool of pure free water). To
determine water potential, solute potential (The magnitude of decreased water potential due to
the dissolution of a solute) and pressure potential (The hydrostatic pressure to which water in a
liquid phase is subjected) must be applied.
Osmosis is not just important for humans, but also to plants as well. For plants, it helps in
retaining the turgidity of the cell by having a lot of water molecules in its vacuoles. It also plays
a role in the movement of the opening and closing of stomata during transpiration, in the
movement of liquid through a biological membrane, enabling gas exchange into and out of the
leaves so that CO2 can enter the plant's cells to be used in photosynthesis as it enters in the guard
cells, the growth of radicle and plumule at the time of germination of seeds and many more.
As you can see in Osmosis, there are 3 types of osmotic solutions: Isotonic, Hypertonic
and Hypotonic. Isotonic solution is any external solution that has the same solute concentration
and water concentration compared to body fluids. Cells undergo a flaccid state due to the
movement of water molecules present. For Hypertonic solution, this is any external solution that
has a high solute concentration and low water concentration compared to body fluids. When a
higher solute concentration is present, water will be lost in the cell causing it to shrivel and die
by a process known as plasmolysis. As for Hypotonic solution, this is any external solution that
has a low solute concentration and a high-water concentration compared to body fluids. Since a
net movement of water from the solution into the cell, swelling and expansion will occur until it
eventually bursts through a process known as cytolysis.

Results:

Table 1: Table showing volume of H2O + salt used to make various dilutions.

Concentrations Calculations

100% C1V1 = C2V2

(1.0M)(x) = (1.0)(20cm3)
(1.0M)(x)= 20 ml
x = 20 ml of salt solution

20 ml of salt solution + 0 ml of
distilled water

75% C1V1 = C2V2

(1.0M)(x) = (0.75)(20cm3)
(1.0M)(x)= 15ml
x = 15 ml of salt solution

15 ml of salt solution + 5 ml of
distilled water

50% C1V1 = C2V2

(1.0M)(x) = (0.50)(20cm3)
(1.0M)(x)= 10ml
x = 10 ml of salt solution

10 ml of salt solution + 10 ml of
distilled water

25% C1V1 = C2V2

(1.0M)(x) = (0.25)(20cm3)
(1.0M)(x)= 5ml
 x = 5 ml of salt solution

5 ml of salt solution + 15 ml of
distilled water

0% C1V1 = C2V2
(1.0M)(x) = (0)(20cm3)
(1.0M)(x)= 0 ml
x = 0 ml of salt solution

0 ml of salt solution + 20 ml of
distilled water

Table 2: Table showing concentration, initial length, final length, average length, average change
in length, percentage charge in length of potato.

Concentration Initial Average Final Length Average Percentage

(%) Length Final length (cm) change in charge in length
(cm) (cm) length (%)
(cm)

100 4.0 3.7 3.7 Strip 1 + strip 2/ 2 Initial length - Average change
final length in length/ initial
3.7+3.7/2 = 3.7 lenght
4.0 - 3.7
= 0.3 0.3/4.00 x 100
= 7.50

75 4.0 3.8 3.8 Strip 1 + strip 2/ 2 Initial length - Average change

final length in length/ initial
3.8+3.8/2 = 3.8 lenght
4.0 - 3.8
= 0.2 0.2/4.00 x 100
= 5.00

50 4.0 3.9 3.9 Strip 1 + strip 2/ 2 Initial length - Average change

final length in length/ initial
3.9+3.9/2 = 3.9 lenght
4.0 - 3.9
 = 0.1 0.1/4.00 x 100
= 2.50

25 4.0 4.1 4.1 Strip 1 + strip 2/ 2 Initial length - Average change

final length in length/ initial
4.1+4.1/2 = 4.1 lenght
4.0 - 4.1
= - 0.1 - 0.1/4.00 x 100
= - 2.50

0 4.0 4.2 4.2 Strip 1 + strip 2/ 2 Initial length - Average change

final length in length/ initial
4.2+4.2/2 = 4.2 lenght
4.0 - 4.2
= - 0.2 -0,2/4.00 x 100
= - 5.00

Graph showing concentration against percentage change in length

Calculation:

C1V1=C2V2
C1 = 1.0 M salt solution
V1 = Volume of 1.0M salt solution needed
C2 = Concentration of diluted salt solution
V2 = 20 cm3 of diluted salt solution

(i) 100% salt solution

C1V1 = C2V2
(1.0M)(x) = (1.0)(20cm3)
(1.0M)(x)= 20 ml
x = 20 ml of salt solution

∴ 20 ml of salt solution + 0 ml of distilled water

(ii) 75% salt solution

C1V1 = C2V2
(1.0M)(x) = (0.75)(20cm3)
(1.0M)(x)= 15ml
x = 15 ml of salt solution

∴ 15 ml of salt solution + 5 ml of distilled water

(iii) 50% salt solution

C1V1 = C2V2
(1.0M)(x) = (0.50)(20cm3)
(1.0M)(x)= 10ml
x = 10 ml of salt solution

∴ 10 ml of salt solution + 10 ml of distilled water

(iv) 25% salt solution

C1V1 = C2V2
(1.0M)(x) = (0.25)(20cm3)
(1.0M)(x)= 5ml
x = 5 ml of salt solution
∴ 5 ml of salt solution + 15 ml of distilled water

(v) 0% salt solution

C1V1 = C2V2
(1.0M)(x) = (0)(20cm3)
(1.0M)(x)= 0 ml
x = 0 ml of salt solution

∴ 0 ml of salt solution + 20 ml of distilled water

Discussion:
For this lab, potato strips were used for the demonstration of Osmosis. Osmosis is the
movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water
potential through a partially permeable membrane. Osmosis is considered in terms of water
potential (the energy required, per quantity of water, to transport an infinitesimal quantity of
water from the sample to a reference pool of pure free water). To determine water potential,
solute potential (The magnitude of decreased water potential due to the dissolution of a solute)
and pressure potential (The hydrostatic pressure to which water in a liquid phase is subjected)
must be applied in a simple calculation. Because of these variables, if one has increased or
decreased, it will determine the water potential, e.g. The more solute potential, the lower the
water potential and more pressure potential, the higher the water potential.

In osmosis, there are 3 types of osmotic solutions: Isotonic, Hypertonic and Hypotonic.
Isotonic solution is any external solution that has the same solute concentration and water
concentration compared to body fluids. For Hypertonic solution, this is any external solution that
has a high solute concentration and low water concentration compared to body fluids. As for
Hypotonic solution, this is any external solution that has a low solute concentration and a
high-water concentration compared to body fluids. For each solution present, either exosmosis or
endosmosis can take place. Endosmosis is a substance that is placed in a hypotonic solution, the
solvent molecules move inside the cell and the cell becomes turgid or undergoes deplasmolysis.
Exosmosis, on the other hand, is a substance placed in a hypertonic solution, the solvent
molecules move outside the cell and the cell becomes flaccid or undergoes plasmolysis.

This experiment truly demonstrated Osmosis. From making the solutions of 100% to 0%,
you can see the concentrations of each solution changing as it decreases. Since this occurs, it will
make an effect in each potato strip when left in the solutions. Starting at 100%, it had a 0.3 cm
decrease and percentage change of 7.50 increased from its original size. Because the
concentration was 100% salt solution, it possessed a hypertonic solution with exosmosis present
causing the strip to become flaccid when touching it. Since there is no presence of water, the salt
pulls all the water molecules from the strip out like a vacuum, making the cell membrane may
detach from the wall and constrict the cytoplasm, becoming dehydrated and have a plasmolysis
state.

At 75%, a solution of 15 ml of salt solution and 5 ml of distilled water was made. The
strip presented a 0.2 cm decrease and percentage change of 5.00 increased from its original size.
Since there is more salt concentration than water, it still is considered a hypertonic solution, but
not as strong as the 100% dilution. With little water present, the salt pulls the water molecules
from the strip out like a vacuum, making the cell membrane detach from the wall and constrict
the cytoplasm and have a plasmolysis state. Compared to the 100%, the potato strip is not as
flaccid, but a little more stiff and rigid because there are water molecules inside the potato strip
and in the solution. This causes the water molecules to go inside the cell and make it a little
swollen and firm.

At 50%, a solution of 10 ml of salt solution + 10 ml of distilled water was made. The

strip had a small change of 0.1 decrease and percentage change of 2.50 increase from its original
size. This solution is 50-50 percent salt and water. This creates an Isotonic solution which makes
the water molecules constantly leaving and entering the cell like a cycle. An equal equilibrium of
salt and water molecules going in and out of the strip to become more stabilised. Even though the
dilution is 50-50, it will become flaccid because of the constant change in molecule movement in
between inside and out of the cell.

For 25%, a solution of 5 ml of salt solution + 15 ml of distilled water was made, In this
case, a change of -0.1 cm increase and percentage change of -2.50 decrease from its original size.
In this solution, it is like the Isotonic, but also has elements of a hypotonic solution as well
because there is more water than salt in the dilutions. Since there is more water outside of the
cell, the vacuoles will be filled with more water like a small sponge, making it a little more
turgid than the 50% solution.

Finally, the 0% only possess 100% water, making the solution Hypotonic with
endosmosis present. Normally, in an endosmosis solution the solvent molecules move inside the
cell and the cell becomes totally turgid or undergoes cytolysis. This happens because of the water
molecules outside the cell coming into the vacuoles and absorbs the water like a big sponge. As a
result of this, a change of -0.2 cm increase and percentage change of -5.00 decrease from its
original size was present. As you can see with the trends present in each solution; the higher the
salt concentration is the more plasmolysis takes place, and the more water molecules present the
more cytolysis takes place. Each solution has their own analysis when it comes to their given
values and outcomes of each strip.
Source of Error:
1. If the solution is not concentrated enough or has been left long enough, different
outcomes or values will occur than what it is supposed to be.
2. Not having consistent strips of potato in weight, size, shape, and layers will cause uneven
results after leaving the potato in dilutions.

Precaution:
1. When taking any measurements, watching at eye-level is very important to have
consistency in every stage in the experiment.
2. Make sure all apparatuses and materials are cleaned after even use because cross
contamination can affect the experiment by getting unexpected results.

Assumptions:
● When placing potato strips in water, the water molecules move into the cells by osmosis.
Each cell swells slightly, and the strip increases in length and becomes turgid.
● When placing potato strips in a concentrated salt solution, the water molecules move out
of the cell by osmosis. Each cell shrines slightly, and the strip decreases in length and
becomes flaccid.
● Based on the concentrated solutions used, turbidity and flaccidity would not just be signs
of reaction to osmosis but, plasmolysis and cytolysis can also be one as well. This occurs
due to which solution is made.
● In each solution, if the salt concentration were more, the percent change would increase.
If the solution had more water, then the percent change would decrease.
● With the presence of different solutions in and out of the strips, a change is supposed to
be expected in weight, length, width, size, shape and more. This can only be determined
by the solution and concentrations used.
● In some situations, endosmosis and exosmosis do take place. It is just which solution is
present.
● In terms of water potential, it can be determined by a simple calculation of solute
potential and pressure potential. Because of these variables, if one has increased or
decreased it will determine the water potential.
● The more solute concentration, the lower the water potential and more pressure potential,
the higher the water potential.
Limitations:
1. Based on the age of the potato, osmosis will not occur so effectively as a new potato.
From this, the staleness of the strip will make it harder to absorb the water molecules
present from their external conditions causing unexpected results.
2. Temperature can affect the rate of reaction between the relationship of the potato strip
and water. In temperature the higher it is, the faster the water molecules will move inside
the cell. The lower the temperature, the slower osmosis will take place inside the cell. If
left too long, evaporation can also occur based on the conditions of the situation present.

Ways of Improvement:

Many factors may be considered while improving the experiment for this lab. One
example is having greater precision and accuracy when doing particular steps. For example,
accurately measuring the solutions in the measuring cylinder (without going under or beyond the
necessary quantity). This reduces the possibility of errors occurring and makes the process more
valid when carried out. Also, utilising more skilled equipment, such as a top pan balance, allows
for more in-depth investigation in the lab. For example: knowing the weight of the strip before
and after osmosis helps to understand what happened in each solution. Another improvement is
to run different trials of each solution available. By doing so, you can confirm that the expected
values were present in the result, and if it was incorrect, you will know what it was intended to
be.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, investigating osmosis in potato cells placed in various solute
concentrations was the aim of the lab and has been successfully achieved from the various
outcomes of values and the state of each potato strip.

Reflection:

As osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential
to a region of lower water potential through a partially permeable membrane, it gives importance
to our everyday life. From plants we eat to our bodily functions and processors, knowing about
osmosis is greater than a topic, it gives a reality to the science of everything that is connected to a
human’s lifetime. A good example can be the blood system of the human body which osmosis is
used to eliminate waste elements from red blood cells because of its barrier. Another example
can be kidney dialysis which is a treatment used for people who have kidney failure by expelling
excess water. Things like this give reasons to prove why osmosis has significance to the world
we live in.