Diffusion Rate Of Glucose From Potatoes

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Effect of Surface Area to Volume Ratio on Diffusion Rate of Glucose from Potatoes Abstract: The experiment was conducted to determine if differences in surface area had a significant effect on diffusion rate of glucose from potatoes. Potato samples of three different lengths were collected through a process of coring along the middle of the vegetable. Cores were soaked in distilled water for a period before an o-dianisidine-enzyme solution was added. Glucose diffusion rates were determined by using a spectrometer after a period of incubation of the potato samples. Glucose levels were measured at 0.52, 0.57, and 0.67 showing that an increase in surface area corresponded with a non-significant (p=0.096) increase in the glucose diffusion rate. Introduction Diffusion is the random movement of substances from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration (down a concentration gradient) and this occurs to stabilize the cell (Kaisa, 2011). Diffusion occurs until the particles are completely evenly distributed. Several factors can alter the diffusion rate of substances, but specifically several factors can influence the diffusion rate of glucose from potatoes. Changes in temperature, surface area, soaking time of the samples, and many other factors may influence the diffusion rate of glucose. Increases in soaking (blanching) time and temperature both are directly proportionate to increases in glucose diffusion rates (Abdel-Kader, 1992). Surface area to volume ratio affects the glucose diffusion rate of potatoes. The greater the surface area the greater the diffusion rate of glucose is going to be (Kaymak/Kincal, 1994). The purpose of this experiment was to examine the surface area to volume ratio and to determine if it had a significant impact on diffusion of glucose rates of potatoes. The null hypothesis tested could not be rejected because the

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