Osmosis Process Experiment Essay Example

necessary to have the same temperature in the room and the solution. Additionally, the timing of the experiment should be consistent by putting all potatoes in dishes simultaneously or at regular intervals. The quantity of solution in each petri dish may affect osmosis rate; hence, measuring it with a cylinder is essential to avoid inconsistencies. For example, each petri dish should have 20ml of solution.

To conduct a fair test, it is important to use same sized potato cylinders. It is necessary to cut them evenly and precisely in order to ensure that they have approximately the same mass. Additionally, it is crucial to use the same potato for all ten slices in order to maintain a fair test, as different potatoes have different osmosis levels. The experiment requires a wide range of results, as osmosis takes time for us to observe changes in mass. Therefore, we have decided to spread the observation time over thirty minutes. This extended duration will allow us to see a greater difference in the potatoes and measure the extent of osmosis that has occurred.

To gradually observe the change taking place, we conducted a total of five readings, as the minimum required was 5. Our approach involved placing one potato cylinder labeled "A" and another labeled "B" in every petri dish, amounting to ten slices in total. We simultaneously introduced them into the solution and allowed them to remain for thirty minutes before removing them simultaneously as well. For enhanced reliability and precision of the results, it is recommended to repeat the experiment two or three times to ensure consistent patterns. Conducting multiple trials increases the accuracy of

the findings. Based on my prediction, the potato will experience an increase in mass in a less concentrated solution, as the potatoes themselves are highly concentrated and require distilled water to achieve a balanced concentration.

As the concentration increases, the potatoes will lose mass as they have a lower concentration compared to the molar concentration. To reach equilibrium, they need to shed weight. As water fills the cells of the potato, it gains weight and becomes turgid. Although there is a limit to how much water it can hold, its strong cell wall prevents bursting within thirty minutes. However, when exposed to high concentrations of saltwater, the potato loses weight and no longer maintains its turgidity but instead becomes limp or flaccid.

Plasmolysis, which is the phenomenon of the cytoplasm peeling away from the cell due to water leaving it, will soon occur. This prediction is supported by preliminary tests. However, we have not yet conducted a preliminary test ourselves; therefore, our understanding of osmosis is based on research and classroom lessons. In order to collect evidence, we performed a potato osmosis experiment and created a table to document the results. We recorded the initial mass of the potatoes in grams before immersing them in salt solutions and organized this data in a table.

After waiting for thirty minutes, we retrieved the potatoes and reweighed them. We recorded this data in a table and compared it to our predictions in search of resemblances. After gathering five measurements, we noticed a consistent pattern. Specifically, the potato submerged in distilled water gained weight as expected, while the potato in the salt solution lost weight. Regrettably, due to time constraints,

we were unable to conduct further trials for a more accurate outcome. Consequently, an average result could not be determined.

We were uncertain regarding the accuracy of our results. Since no one else could conduct a second trial, we ultimately decided to compare our results. Although everyone's results varied in terms of mass, the patterns observed closely resembled our experiment and my prediction.