Investigating the effect of sugar solutions on potato chips

Osmosis is defined as the movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from a region of high water concentration to a region of low water concentration.

In a high concentration of water the amount of solute (e.g. sugar) is low. This could be called a weak or dilute solution. In a low concentration of water the amount of solute (e.g. sucrose) is high. This could be called a strong or concentrated solution. When two such solutions are divided by a semi-permeable membrane the water will move from the area of high concentration to the area of low concentration, until both sides are equal (have reached equilibrium).

Weak solution partially permeable membrane Strong solution

The solute molecule sugar is too large to diffuse through pore in the membrane.

Water molecules small enough to diffuse through easily.

Temperature can affect this by speeding or slowing down the process so we will try and keep the temperature the same.

The vacuole shrinks and water passes out of the cell by osmosis.

1: Keep the potato samples the same length (5cm). This is because if one potato sample is 4cm long and one is 6cm long then the 6cm long sample will have a larger surface area and osmosis will occur much more quickly. Also I will try and keep the surface area the same as if there is a bigger surface area than other potatoes more osmosis will take place.

Some topics in this essay:
Average Volume, King Edward, King Edwards, H2O H2O, Prediction Osmosis, Plasmolysis Cell, Potato Using, test tubes, test tube, water concentration, concentration water, distilled water, , razor blade, Obtaining Length, potato cells, cell wall, semi-permeable membrane, potato chip, low water concentration, water amount solute, concentration water amount, using razor blade, amount solute eg,