Osmosis

In this case study I will be looking at how osmosis affects a potato chip. My aim is too investigate the effect of varying concentrations of a certain salt solutions; and water, on the amount of osmotic activity between the solution and a potato chip of a given size and mass.

Osmosis

Osmosis is the movement of a solvent, usually water, through a semi-permeable membrane. The solvent moves from a low concentration to high concentration. The process only stops when the concentration are balanced on both sides of the semi-permeable membrane.

Low concentration High concentration

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Lots of water molecules Few water molecules

Osmosis is a vital process for many plant cells, it is used for the transfer of energy and nutrients through cell membranes.

Plan

I will be observing how different levels of water/salt concentrate affect the potato chip's mass when the potato is submerged in the solvent.I will be carrying out my experiment on 15 separate potato chips. Three potato chips will be used for each solution of salt concentrate: 1moldm-3, 2moldm-3 , 3moldm-3 and 4moldm-3, and three for my control, water. This will be done to ensure it is a fair test and so that I can discard any outliers. All of my potato chip will be fully submerged and I will make them each the same length, each beaker will contain the same amount of liquid/solvent. I will measure the potato chips mass before and after the experiment and will be observing the percentage mass change (delta) and the total mass change.

Apparatus

Knife

Cutting tile

Scales

Potato

Measuring Cylinder

Beaker

1,2,3,4