The Effect of Varying Concentrations of Salt

Solutions to Osmosis Process

IB BIOLOGY HIGHER LEVEL

By: Joy Valeria Rahardja 11E
 Introduction
1.1 Background Knowledge
Osmosis is the movement of molecules of a solvent through a semipermeable
membrane which lowers the concentration of the solute on the other side of the membrane. If
the concentration of solute is lower outside of the cell, then it is said that the fluid is hypotonic
to the cell. While if the concentration of solute is higher outside of the cell, the fluid is said to
be hypertonic to the cell.
In biology and real life, osmosis is important in the absorption of water by root hairs
from the soil. In the case of absorption by the root hairs, the root hair cell needs to actively
transport mineral salts into the cells. Other processes that use osmosis as the methods of moving
particles across membranes include kidney dialysis, red blood cells swelling because of water
intake,etc.

To conduct the experiment and see how osmosis works including what factors affect
osmosis in plant cells, potatoes are used as a representation of plant cells. The potatoes will be
put in different solutions with different concentrations to see how different levels of
concentration of salt in a solution will affect the change in length of the potato and the
flaccidity. The change in length percentage of the potato determines whether the potatoes will
absorb molecules or rather the particles will move out of the potatoes. The percentage change
of potato lengths in different concentration level will also be compared to see whether higher
concentration will make molecules move faster or not. The flaccidity and the colour of the
potatoes after being immersed in the solution will also be observed.
There are three conditions which are said to affect living cells in terms of osmosis.
These conditions or osmotic state which usually surround the cells are hypertonic, hypotonic,
and isotonic solution. Hypertonic solution refers to a state where there are greater concentration
or solute particles outside of the membrane than there are inside of the cell. Hypotonic solution
refers to a solution that has lower concentration of solute particles in a solution than the other
solution across semipermeable membrane. Isotonic solution refers to a solution that has equal
concentration with the concentration level inside of the membrane.
These are how the different types of solutions implemented on the experiment are said
to affect the osmotic process. The hypertonic tonic solution which is the salt solution is said to
cause water to move out of the potatoes to the solution because molecules move to a more
concentrated solution. The hypotonic solution which is the water is said to cause the potatoes
to absorb more water inside because there is more concentration of substance inside of the
potatoes than in water. The isotonic solution on the other hand, is said to not cause any
movement of molecules into or out of the potatoes. These theories will be further investigated.
1.2 Objective:
The objective of this experiment is to examine the effect of solutions with different
concentration level to the properties of the potatoes and the absorption or release of solvent
through potatoes membrane.
1.3 Research Question:
The research question in this experiment is:
“How much percentage change decrease or increase of length does the potatoes get
after absorbing or releasing solvent in solutions of varying concentration of salt?”
The percentage change determines whether the solvent move out of the potatoes or
enter. A decrease in percentage change means that the solvent moves out of the potatoes, while
an increase in percentage change means that the solvent is absorbed by the potatoes.
1.4 Null Hypothesis (H0):
The null hypothesis of this experiment states that the solvent molecules will not move
to the area with more concentration.
This means that the potatoes will not gain increase in length if they are immersed in
plain water solution (since it has low concentration) and will not gain decrease in length if they
are immersed in salt-concentrated solution.
1.5 Hypothesis (H1):
The hypothesis 1 of this experiment states that the solvent molecules will move to the
area with more concentration.
This means that the potatoes will gain increase in length if they are immersed in plain
water solution (since it has low concentration) and will gain decrease in length if they are
immersed in salt-concentrated solution.
 Variables
2.1 Independent Variables
The independent variables used in the experiment are the amount of salt dissolved in the
same volume of water (concentration of salt in each solution).
Table 1 – Concentration of Salt in each Solution as Independent Variables
Amount of Mass (g) Volume of Concentration of
salt dissolved Water Salt in Solution
(tsp unit) (litres) (g/l)

Solution 1 0 0 0.08 0 / 0.08 = 0

Solution 2 0.5 3 0.08 3 / 0.08 = 37.5
Solution 3 1 6 0.08 6 / 0.08 = 75

2.2 Dependent Variable

Dependent variables in this experiment include:
- The final length of the potato strips after being soaked in the solution (cm)
- Percentage change of length of the potato strips (%)
- Degree of flexibility of the potato strips (degrees)

2.3 Controlled Variable

Table 2 – Controlled Variable of the Osmosis Experiment
Specific How it may affect
No Variables Quantity / Achieved By result
Quality
Using the Potatoes from
same type of different plant might
potato bought have different
1 Type of Potatoes 2 from the same concentration inside
market and and also the thickness
kept in a same of the plasma
amount of membrane that allows
time. solvent to move
through it.
Different size or
Cutting the thickness of the
2
2 Size of Potato Strips 1 cm x 4 cm potatoes using potatoes may affect
knife and ruler the final length of the
potatoes.
Different water
Use tap water sources might cause
3 Water Source 80 ml x 3 and measured the water to have
using a beaker different temperatures
and also mixture of
 other substances that
may affect the overall
experiment.
Putting the The temperature
three plastic should be kept as
Room cups with the constant because
4 External Temperature temperature solution and higher temperature
potato strips cause particles to gain
inside in the more energy, thus
same room or increasing the rate of
environment. osmosis.
Volume of The difference in the
water should volume of water may
be kept the cause the assumed
same as the concentration to be
80 ml in each amount of salt different with the
5 Volume of water cup mixed inside actual concentration
of the solution that it has compared
will be varied to the other solutions.
to achieve the
targeted
concentrations.
The time taken should
be same because more
Using phone time taken for one
6 Time 4h timers and particular variable can
clocks have a higher increase
or decrease of the
length of the potato
strips.

Assumptions:
- All of the salt added into the water has been fully stirred
- The amount of salt measured using the teaspoon is converted into grams in reference
to the conversion value given from the internet sources.
3.1 Materials and Equipments
Table 3 – Materials and Equipments for the Rate of Diffusion Experiment
No. Materials and Equipments Quantity
1 Potato 2 pieces
2 Salt 9g
3 Water 240 ml
4 Knife 1 piece
5 Ruler 1 piece
6 Cutting Board 1 piece
7 Plastic Cups 3 pieces
8 Phone Timer 1 piece
9 Beaker 1 piece
10 Tissue 3 plies
11 Teaspoon 1 piece
12 Stirrer 1 piece
13 Protractor 1 piece
14 Labels 3 pieces
15 Pen 1 piece

3.2 Safety Precautions

Be careful with the usage of knife as it may hurt the fingers while doing the experiment.

3.3 Methodology
Preparing the potato strips
1. Use a knife to cut 12 strips of potato with the face sides of 1 x 1 cm and the length
of 4 cm.
Preparing solution
2. Prepare 3 types of solution by pouring 80 ml of water into each plastic cup.
3. For the first plastic cup, no need to add any salt. For the second plastic cup, add ½
teaspoon of salt to the water and stir it well. For the second plastic cup, add 1
teaspoon of salt to the water and stir it well.
Immersion
4. Put 4 potato strips into each cup, and make sure that they are fully soaked.
5. Label the cups according to the concentration of salt that each solution has.
6. Leave the potato strips to be immersed for 4 hours. Use timer to give notices later
when 4 hours have passed.
Observing the result
7. After 4 h, the potato strips should be taken out of the solutions.
8. Rinse each potato strips using tap water and dry them using tissue or any cloth.
9. Use a ruler to measure the final length of each potato strips and note them down
according to the solution concentration that they are immersed in.
10. Calculate the percentage change of length of the strips using the following
formula:
Percentage Change of Length (%) = (Final Length – Initial Length) x 100%
11. Observe the flaccidity by measuring the angle degree of the maximum ability of
the potato strips to bend (flexibility) using a protractor.
12. Observe the colour of the potato strips after being immersed.

‘
 Results
4.1 Results Data
This table shows the results obtained from the experiment:
Table 4 – Average Percentage Change of Length of Potato Strips

Initial Final Average

length Length Change Percentage Change Percentage
Potatoes Trial of of of of Length Change of
Potato Potato Length (%) Length
Strips Strips (in cm) (%)
(in cm) (in cm)
1 4.1 0.1 (0.1 / 4.0) x 100% =
2.5%
Potato strips 1 2 4.1 0.1 (0.1 / 4.0) x 100% =
(immersed in 0 2.5%
g/l 3 4.0 4.1 0.1 (0.1 / 4.0) x 100% = 3.13%
concentrated 2.5%
salt solution)
4 (0.2 / 4.0) x 100% =
4.2 0.2 5%

1 3.7 -0.3 (-0.3 / 4.0) x 100%

Potato strips 2 = -7.5%
(immersed in 2 3.7 -0.3 (-0.3 / 4.0) x 100%
37.5 g/l 4.0 = -7.5% -6.25
concentrated 3 3.8 -0.2 (-0.2 / 4.0) x 100%
salt solution) = -5%
4 3.8 -0.2 (-0.2 / 4.0) x 100%
= - 5%
1 3.5 -0.5 (-0.5 / 4.0) x 100%
Potato strips 3 = -12.5%
(immersed in 2 3.6 -0.4 (-0.4/4.0) x 100%
75 g/l 4.0 = -10% -10.63%
concentrated 3 3.6 -0.4 (-0.4/4.0) x 100%
salt solution) = -10%
4 3.65 -0.35 (-0.4/4.0) x 100%
= -10%
 Graph 1.1 Percentage Change of Length of Potato
Strips After Soaking
3,13
4
Percentage Change of Length (%)
2
0
0 37,5 75
-2
15
-4
-6,25
-6
-8
-10,63
-10
-12
Concentration of Solution the Strips are Soaked in (g/l)

Table 5 – Flaccidity of the Potatoes After Immersion

Trial Degree of Bending Average Degree Flaccidity

of Bending Description
1 180°
Potato Strips 1 2 180° 180° Turgid and firm
3 180°
4 180°
1 90°
Potato Strips 2 2 90° 82.5° Flaccid
3 75°
4 75°
1 35°
Potato Strips 3 2 50° 47.5° Very flaccid
3 50°
4 55°

Table 5 – Colour Observations of the Potato Strips After Immersed

Colour
Potato Strips 1 Light yellow (like the initial colour)
Potato Strips 2 Darker yellow with small amount of brownish stain
Potato Strips 3 Darker yellow with quite a large amount of brownish stain
4.2 Results and Discussion
The percentage change of length becomes negative as the potato strips were immersed
in a hypertonic solution (solution with 37.5 g/l and with 75 g/l concentration). This is because
there is a higher salt concentration in the solution that the concentration in the area of the
potatoes. Meanwhile, the of length of the potato strips immersed in the hypotonic solution
increase, which means that the percentage change of length is a positive number. This is
because water is not concentrated, and the area inside the potato is more concentrated;
therefore, water molecules move into the potato strips causing it to gain increase in length. The
length of potato strips immersed in plain water increase when they absorb water because cell
expands to accommodate the influx of water molecules. The isotonic solution is then identified
by seeing the point where the percentage change of length is 0 (on y-axis). Using graphing
calculator, the line which connects point 1 and point 2 gives a line equation and is used to
determine the concentration of the point where percentage change of length is equal to zero.
This gives the result of 15 g/l concentration of salt solution (isotonic solution).
The experiment results reject the null hypothesis since the potato strips release the water
to the concentrated solution and absorb the water from the plain water which is assumed to be
less concentrated than the concentration of the area of strips. The result matches with the theory
suggested by Anderson, W (2019) which stated, “When the salt solution concentration was
increased, the potato experienced a larger decrease in mass due to the occurrence of osmosis.”
The potato strips that has the largest decrease of percentage change of length (-10.63%) is the
potato strips that were immersed in 75 g/l which is the solution with the highest concentration
of salt. It is higher compared to the ones immersed in 37.5 g/l because higher concentration
would increase the rate of osmosis as well.
Molecules tend to move to area of higher concentration of the other side of cell or area
because any solute (like salt) will bind up hydrating water and prevent it from moving freely.
Therefore, the side of a semipermeable membrane with pure water has a higher “free” water
concentration than the side with the solute molecules.
4.3 Conclusion
The water molecules move from the area of lower concentration to higher
concentration. This can be seen by how the potatoes immersed in concentrated salt solution
release the water and shrink, while the potatoes immersed in plain water absorb more water
and gain an increase in length. Higher concentration difference will also make the rate of
osmosis increase, in this case, the potatoes submerged in the solution with higher concentration
of salt have the percentage change of length decrease higher than the ones submerged in the
solution with lower concentration of salt.
4.4 Evaluation and Recommendation
This experiment’s methodology needs to be modified to improve the reliability of the
experiment. First, there might be slight errors when measuring the length of the potato strips.
This can be improved by using many measurement trials to limit the random errors in
measuring.
Second, the teaspoon used as the measurement for salt to be mixed with water may
cause the actual mass of salt to be different with the mass of one teaspoon of salt given from
internet sources. Therefore, the conversion of teaspoon into mass may not be precise or
accurate. To improve this, digital balance can be used to get the precise mass of the salt to make
the solution.
Last of all, distilled water should have been used to eliminate the factors that may affect
the water concentration since tap water may be mixed with other substances.
 Appendix

Appendix i: Measurement Procedure / Data Collection

Image 1 – Final Image 2 – Final Image 3 – Final

Length of Potato Length of Potato Length of Potato
Strips 1 Strips 2 Measurement Strips 3 Measurement
Measurement

Image 4 – Angle
Degree of Bending
Measurement
Method
 References
Anderson, W. (2019). Effect of Salt Concentration on Osmosis in Potato Cells Lab Answers.
School Work Helper. Retrieved from: https://schoolworkhelper.net/effect-of-salt-
concentration-on-osmosis-in-potato-cells-lab-answers/.
ICT. (2012, August 22). Osmosis. E-tutoring. Retrieved from:
https://etutoring.gayazahs.sc.ug/uploads/ebooks/1345642001.pdf
Lohner, S. (2020, January 9). Make a Potato Shrink--with SaltwaterMt. San Antonio College.
(n.d.) Surface to Volume Ratios. Scientific American. Retrieved from:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/make-a-potato-shrink-with-saltwater/
Udemy Editor. (2020, February). Osmosis Experiment For Kids: Potato, Water, and Salt.
Udemy. Retrieved from: https://blog.udemy.com/osmosis-experiment/
Zaki, A. (2012). Affect on Concentration on the Rate of Osmosis. Slideshare. Retrieved from:
https://www.slideshare.net/XAB00DX/osmosis-lab-report