Experimental Design Lab: Osmosis Lab Using Potatoes

Safety
Since the experiment did not involve any harmful or toxic chemicals,
the need for personal protective equipment such as gloves, goggles, or
aprons were not necessary. However, one should be careful while
handling the potato corer because the sharp edge may pierce skin,
although this is not likely.
Research Question
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the tonicity of a
potato cell using the principals of osmosis.
Hypothesis
The potato cores will gain mass when they are hypertonic to the
sucrose solution. In addition, the potato cores will lose mass when they
are hypotonic to the sucrose solution.
Identification of Variables
The independent variable was the different concentrations of sucrose
(0.0 M, 0.2 M, 0.4 M, 0.6 M, 0.8 M, & 1.0 M) that we placed the
potatoes in. The dependent variable was the final mass of the potato
after the 24-hour osmosis process (and the amount of time that the
potato spent the in the solution was the controlled variable).
Materials/Equipment
The materials were: the 6 sucrose solutions (0.0 M, 0.2 M, 0.4 M, 0.6 M,
0.8 M, & 1.0 M), 6 potato cores, a potato corer, deionized water (0.0 M
solution), an electronic balance, 6 clear containers with lids, a
calculator, masking tape, a permanent marker, a pen, and paper.
Procedure
1. Using masking tape, label 6 containers with the different
concentrations of sucrose solution (0.0 M/deionized water, 0.2 M,
0.4 M, 0.6 M, 0.8 M, & 1.0 M).
2. Using the potato corer, cut 6 potato cores to approximately the
same size (since percent change will be used in the calculations,
varying size in potato cores will not be much of a factor).
3. Take the mass of each potato core with the electronic balance,
and place each core in a separate container.
4. Fill up each container with the corresponding sucrose
concentration until the potato is completely covered with
solution.
5. Place the lids on each container and let them sit overnight for 24
hours.

6. Take the lids off the containers and empty the containers of the
solution.
7. Take the mass of each potato core with the electronic balance,
and observe the change in mass.
8. Use the two masses of each potato core to find the percent
Final massInital mass
100 ).
change ( =
Inital mass
9. Using the percent change, graph the information and find the
linear line of best fit. The point at which the line crosses the xaxis is the tonicity of the potato.
Data/Quantitative
Sucrose
Concentration
0.0 M (Deionized
water)
0.2 M
0.4 M
0.6 M
0.8 M
1.0 M

Initial Mass

Final Mass

6.0 g

6.8 g

6.4
6.0
6.8
7.2
6.4

6.6
5.2
5.5
5.6
4.8

g
g
g
g
g

g
g
g
g
g

Observations/Qualitative
When I removed the potato from the solution, the turgor pressure had
changed. In the first two sucrose concentrations (0.0 M and 0.2 M) in
which the potato gained mass, the rigidity of the potato increased and
slightly shriveled. This indicated that the potato was hypertonic in
relation to solution. In the rest of the sucrose concentrations - in which
the potato lost mass - the potatoes become more flaccid and grew
slightly in size, which indicated that the potato was hypotonic in
relation to the solution.