Potato Osmosis Lab Write up

Introduction

• Explain the importance of water to the cell (60-90%, universal solvent, etc.)

• Explain the parts of a solution (solute & solvent) and what is meant by the solution's concentration

• Discuss semipermeable cell membranes and osmosis

• Explain what determines direction of movement of water into and out of the cell (solute concentration inside & outside the cell, water potential, down the concentration gradient, etc.)

• Explain the effect of water loss and water gain on plant cells

Hypothesis
(write objective from lab.)

Materials
The materials used include ...

Procedure
Day 1
Use a knife to ... (No numbers; write in paragraph form)

Procedure
Day 2
Carefully remove the ... (No numbers; write in paragraph form)

Results

Data Table

1. Did any of the ...
   answer

Conclusion

• Restate the hypothesis

• Discuss the original mass and original appearance of the potato cores

• Discuss the mass change (if any0 and flexibility of the cores after 24 hours in the solutions

• Explain the change of mass in each core telling WHY THE MASS CHANGE OCCURRED (movement of the water & in which direction & why it moved that way)

• Explain the change in flexibility of the cores (why were they stiffer or more flexible)

• Make a final statement about concentration gradient & movement of water across cell membranes