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Core Experiment 2 Potato Osmometer

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640 views2 pages

Core Experiment 2 Potato Osmometer

Uploaded by

abhinab.nair
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Core Experiment 2

Study of Osmosis by Potato Osmometer


Aim:

To study osmosis by potato osmometer or osmoscope.

Requirements:

Large potato, knife/peeler, 10-20% sucrose solution, petri dish, beaker, water,
pins.

Theory:

Osmosis is the net movement of water molecules from a region of their high
concentration (i.e., dilute solution) to a region of their low concentration (i.e.,
concentrated solution) through a semipermeable membrane till a state of
equilibrium is reached. A semipermeable membrane permits the movement of
solvent molecules only.

Depending on the movement of water into or outward of cell, osmosis is of two


types:

Endosmosis: Osmotic inflow of water into a cell when placed in a solution whose
solute concentration is less than cell sap. For example, swelling of raisins when
placed in water.

Exosmosis: osmotic outflow of water from a cell when placed in a solution


whose solute concentration is more than cell sap. For example, shrinkage of
grapes when placed in strong sugar solution.

Importance of Osmosis in Plants:

(i) Absorption of water from soil


(ii) Cell to cell movement of water in plants.
(iii) Help to maintain turgidity of plant organs
(iv) Resistance of plants to drought and frost brought by osmotic pressure of
their cells
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Procedure:

1. Peel off the outer skin of potato and cut one end flat.
2. With the help of peeler or scooper, make a cavity in the centre of the potato.
3. Fill half of the cavity of potato with sugar solution and mark the level of
sugar solution in the cavity with the help of a pin. It functions as
osmometer.
4. Leave the osmometer undisturbed for an hour in a beaker filled with water
and then mark the level of sugar solution in the potato with another pin.

Observations:
The level of sugar solution in the potato cavity rises due to entry of water into
sugar solution through selectively permeable membrane of cells of potato.
Result:
Water moves from beaker into the potato cavity because of difference in water
potential between two solutions i.e., sugar solution and water.
Precautions:
1. Cavity should be deep enough to keep only a thin layer of tissues at the
base.
2. Sugar solution should be highly concentrated.
3. Do not damage sides and bottom of osmoscope.

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