Osmosis and Diffusion

Potato Lab
 What is osmosis and diffusion?
• Osmosis is the movement of water across a
cell membrane from an area of higher
concentration to an area of lower
concentration.
• Diffusion is the movement of molecules
other than water across a membrane from
an area of higher concentration to and area
of lower concentration.
Can a potato be used to demonstrate osmosis
and diffusion?

• Potatoes are composed of cells.

• Potato cells have cell membranes.
• Potato cells have some water and some salt
inside the cells.
 Design the Experiment
• What can we observe that would be
evidence of osmosis and diffusion?
• What can we measure to see if a change
takes place?
• What is the process that will cause a
change?
• What is the variable? What is the control?
 Materials
• 2 Potato slices
• 2 cups
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• Water
• Balance
• Marker to label cups
 Hypothesis
• Water Cup-Water will move from the cup
into the potato because water outside the
cell will be in higher concentration than
water inside the cell. This is an example of
hypotonic solution.
• Salt Water Cup- Salt will move into the
cell from the cup and water will move out
of the cell into the cup because of a
difference in concentration. This is a
hypertonic solution.
 Procedure
• Label one cup water. Label the other cup
salt water.
• Measure the mass of a potato slice.
Record the mass on a cup and place the
slice in the cup. Repeat so that each cup
has one potato slice.
 Procedure
• Add the same amount of water to each cup
so that the potato slices are covered with
water.
• Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the cup labeled
salt water. Make sure that the salt
dissolves.
• Let both cups sit at least overnight.
 Predictions
• What do expect to see on Monday?
• What will each potato feel like on
Monday?
• What will each potato look like on
Monday?
• What will happen to the mass of each
potato when you measure it on Monday?
Sample Data for Quiz Review
Condition Initial Mass Final Mass Change in Texture
mass change

Potato 12 grams 14 grams +2 grams More rigid,

in tap firmer
water

Potato 11.5 grams 10 grams -1.5 grams Less rigid,

in salt softer
water

Does osmosis explain the changes? Why?