Osmosis in Potatoes

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Introduction PURPOSE: The purpose of this experiment is to determine the effects of different salt concentrations on osmosis in potatoes. HYPOTHESIS: If the salt concentration increases then the osmosis in potatoes will change the color and texture of the potato because when the salt enters into the potato, osmosis will cause the potato to change. INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: The independent variable of this experiment is the different concentration of salt. DEPENDENT VARIABLE: The dependent variable of this experiment is the mass change (g) and the percentage change. CONTROLLED VARIABLE: The type of salt, type of distilled water, potato size, beakers/test tubes size, type of potato, location/storage, time, and amount of solution. BACKGROUND RESEARCH: The cell membrane (plasma membrane) surrounds all living cells, and it’s the most important organelle of the cell. It controls how substances to move in and out of the cell and it’s responsible for many other properties of the cell. The membranes are composed of phospholipids, proteins and carbohydrates arranged in a fluid mosaic structure. The cell membrane is semi-permeable because it allows some substances to pass through and some substances cannot pass. Small molecules such as water, glucose, and amino acids can pass through the membrane while large molecules such as starch cannot pass through. Active transport is the movement of a particle against its concentration gradient (requires energy). Passive transport is the movement of molecules across the membrane (does not requires energy). Diffusion is the movement of molecules without the use of energy. The process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. Osmosis is the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane. Molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower
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