OSMOLARITY OF A POTATO LAB

(modified from: www.csub.edu/~kszick_miranda/osmosis.doc)

Introduction
Osmosis is a type of diffusion, the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane from a region
where it is highly concentrated to a region where its concentration is lower. The difference in concentration of water
occurs if there is an unequal distribution of at least one dissolved substance on either side of a membrane and the
membrane is impermeable to that substance. In this situation, the substance is called an osmotically active
substance (OAS). For example, if a membrane that is impermeable to sucrose separates a solution of sucrose from
distilled water, water will move from the distilled water where it is in higher concentration, through the membrane
into the sucrose solution, where it is in lower concentration. In this case, sucrose is the osmotically active substance.

Three terms, hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic, are used when referring to two solutions separated by a
selectively permeable membrane. The hypertonic solution has a greater concentration of OAS than the solution on
the other side of the membrane. It is described, therefore, as having a greater osmolarity (solute concentration
expressed as molarity). The hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of OAS, or a lower osmolarity, than the
solution on the other side of the membrane. When the two solutions are in equilibrium, the concentration of OAS
being equal on both sides of the membrane, the osmolarities are equal and the substances are said to be isotonic.
The net flow of water is from the hypotonic to the hypertonic solution. When the solutions are isotonic, there is no
net flow of water across the membrane.

The concept of osmotic pressure must be understood when studying osmosis. The movement of water from a
hypotonic solution through the membrane into a hypertonic solution can be prevented by applying force or pressure
on the hypertonic side. The force that must be applied to prevent osmotic movement of water from hypotonic to
hypertonic, measured in atmospheres, is referred to as osmotic pressure. Solutions with greater concentrations of
OAS have greater osmotic pressures because greater force is required to prevent water movement into them.
Distilled water has an osmotic pressure of zero.

EXERCISE 1. Estimating the Osmolarity of Plant Cells by Change in Weight

Frequently, plant scientists need to determine the optimum water content for normal physiological processes in
plants. They know that for normal activities to take place, the amount of water relative to osmotically active
substances in cells must be maintained within a reasonable range. If plant cells have reduced water content, all vital
functions slow down.
In the following experiments, you will estimate the osmolarity of potato tuber cells. You will incubate pieces of
potato tuber in sucrose solutions of known molarity. The object is to find the molarity at which weight of the potato
tuber tissue does not change, indicating that there has been no net loss or gain of water (HINT – what would this
point look like on a graph). This molarity is an indirect measure of the osmolarity of the potato tuber.

Materials
1 large potato tuber sucrose solutions: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 M balance
7 250-mL beakers razor blade metric ruler
Sharpie cork borer petri dish
forceps deionized (DI) water (0 molar) paper towels
aluminum foil

Introduction

1
In this experiment, you will determine the weight of several potato tuber cylinders and incubate them in a series of
sucrose solutions. After the cylinders have incubated, you will weigh them and determine if they have gained or lost
weight. This information will enable you to estimate the osmolarity of the potato tuber tissue.

Research Question
Use the information in the Introduction section above to develop your research question. Don’t forget to include
both your independent and dependent variables in this question. Write it in the space given below and then have it
checked by your teacher.

Teacher signature

Procedure
DAY 1
1. Label 7 test tubes (or whatever container you have available) as follows: 0.0M, 0.1M, 0.2M, 0.3M, 0.4M, 0.5M
and 0.6M.
2. Add 10 mL of the sucrose solutions to the correct test tube or container. (Note: deionized water is 0.0M).
3. Obtain enough cylinders of potato to have seven 3 cm long pieces. Using a sharp blade, cut the cylinders into
seven 3 cm long pieces.
4. Place all seven potato samples in a petri dish, and keep them covered to prevent their drying out.
*In subsequent steps, treat each sample individually. Work quickly. To provide consistency, each person
should do one task to all cylinders (one person wipe, another weigh, another slice, another record data).
5. Remove a cylinder from the petri dish, and place it between the folds of a paper towel to blot sides and ends.
6. Weigh it to nearest 0.01 g using a weigh boat on the balance. Record the weight in Table 1 in the Observation
section.
7. Transfer potato pieces to the water beaker.
8. Note what time the potato pieces are placed in the water beaker. Time _______
(You should remove the pieces to measure final mass in the same order you put them in the containers to try
and keep time in solution controlled.)
9. Repeat steps 6 to 8 with each cylinder, placing potato pieces in the appropriate incubating solution from 0.1 to
0.6 M.
DON’T FORGET to make any relevant qualitative observations!!!

Incubate roughly 24 hours.

DAY 2
1. At the end of the incubation period, record the time when the potato pieces are removed. Time: _______.
2. Remove the potato pieces from the first sample. Blot the pieces on a paper towel, removing excess solution
only.
3. Weigh the potato pieces and record the final weight in Table 1.
4. Repeat this procedure until all samples have been weighed in the chronological order in which they were initially
placed in the test solutions.
5. Record your data in the Observations section.
DON’T FORGET to make any relevant qualitative observations!!!

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Observations
Table 1: Initial and final masses of 3 cm long potato cylinders placed in solutions of various sucrose concentrations
Sucrose concentration (M) Initial mass (+\- _____ g) Final mass (+\- _____ g)
0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Analysis
1. Is it appropriate to compare the raw changes in mass? Is there a better way to analyze this change? (HINT –
YES, there is!)
2. How can you use the graph of your data to find the sucrose concentration at which there is no net
movement of water into or out of the potato?
3. OVERALL – How do you need to analyze your data to properly address your research question? (HINT to
answer your research question you must estimate the osmolarity of the potato!)