Ms.Kelly
AP Biology
Period:5
September 29, 2014
Potato Lab Report: Effects of Sucrose Solutions on Potato Cells and Water Potential
Abstract: Osmosis is a process by which molecules of a solvent tend to pass through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one, thus equalizing the concentrations on each side of the membrane. In this experiment, we learn about Osmosis and Diffusion through potato cores in different concentration of sucrose, (water, .2, .4, .6, .8, 1.0). We realized that the lower the concentration, the higher the potato cores weighed.
Introduction:All cells have membranes that are selectively permeable. In other words,they allow certain things in and certain substances are not allowed to enter the interior of the cell. The process by which water crosses membranes from region of high water concentration to regions of low water concentration is called Osmosis. Osmosis is the process whereby water moves across a cell membrane by diffusion. Diffusion takes place when the molecules of a substance tend to move from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration. Cells must tightly control the process of osmosis otherwise they will die. Plants with too little water will wilt. This happens when water moves out of the cells by osmosis. Without this water there is little pressure inside the cell and the plant can no longer support itself against the pull of gravity.This experiment is to find out the water potential of potato cells . Water potential is the ability of water to move down gradient of water potential through partially permeable membrane until the gradient is constant.The purpose of this investigation is to see how a plant , in this case a potato , reacts to different concentrations of sucrose. Hypothesis:If we place potatoes in sucrose solutions then as the concentration goes up, the change in
Cited: Literature: Cellular Process Packet : Lab #4 Boseman Science Video Exercise 2- Determine the Water Potential of Potato cells WorkSheet Ap Biology Textbook Lab Book