Testing for the Presence of Starch

Herrera, Danica, Irom, Monica Rae, Manaog, Daniel, Mayuga, Angela Carla,
Tolentino, Alyanna Maica
Group 1, STEM 12-23 Department of
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

Osmosis is the chemical process of diffusion, the following process is involving

the transfer of solvent with a lower concentration of a certain solute through a
semipermeable membrane, and into the area containing a higher concentration of that
solute. Selectively permeable membranes can be found around a variety of cells and
places. The most common example is the phospholipid bilayer cell membrane that
surrounds every cell in our bodies. These semipermeable membranes allow the
passage of solute and some solvents though them. Overall osmosis is: a) It is the
passage of water through a semi permeable membrane b) It is the passage of water
from a region of high water concentration c) It is the passage of water to a region of low
water concentration to higher concentration.
There are three types of osmosis, isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic. These
terms describe the osmotic state of the solution that surrounds a cell, not the solution
inside the cell. Hypertonic conditions cause water to diffuse out of the cell, making the
cell shrivel. Hypotonic conditions cause water to move into the cell swelling or bursting
it. Lastly, isotonic conditions also allow movement of water in and out of the cell, but
with no net increase inside or outside of the cell.
The main objective of this lab was to test for the osmosis between the solution
and the potato by cutting the potato into cubes then putting potato cubes to different
concentration of solutions in order to know if the interaction between the potato cube
and the solution is a hypotonic, hypertonic or isotonic osmosis.
Methodology
Students from STEM 12-23 were divided into 10 groups. Each group was
required to bring the materials needed for the experiment. These materials are fresh
potatoes, cutter, ruler, water, salt, sugar and 3 identical plastic cups. The potatoes were
peeled and cut into 3 1x1x1 inch long. Then each plastic cups were filled according to
the specific amount of materials (solvent and solute or solvent only) and labeled to A-C
respectively. The Solution A is composed with 30% salt and 70% water, while Solution
B is composed with 30% sugar and 70% water lastly, Solution C is composed only with
100% water. The 3 cube potatoes were dropped at the plastic cups at the same, then
the sample was left overnight. The observation from the members of each group was
recorded in pictures and a table below.

Materials:

Solution A: Salt Water

Before: After:
Solution B: Sugar Water
Before: After:

Solution C: Water
Before: After:

Table:
Sample Initial Measurement Final Measurement
Salt Solution 1x1x1 inch 0.7x0.72x0.7 inch
Sugar Solution 1x1x1 inch 1.2x1.0x1.1 inch
Water 1x1x1 inch 1.65x1.63x1.66 inch
1. What happened to the potato that was in the salt solution? Why did that happen?

 The potato cube in the salt solution shrunk in size because the salt concentration in the
water is much greater than inside the potato cells.
2. What happened to the potato that was in the sugar solution? Why did that happen?

 The potato cube in the sugar solution stays in size, even though there’s a small
shrinkage and swelling of the potato it still has the same area size as before since
potatoes already contain sugar, that’s why less water will diffuse out of the potato cubes.
3. What happened to the potato that was in the water? Why did that happen?

 The potato cube in the water solution swells and increase it’s size, because the
concentration in potato cube is greater than the water so it will go through the cell
membrane of the potato and increase the size of it until bursts.

CONCLUSION
Based on the experiment above, it was clearly shown that process of osmosis was
demonstrated. In the salt solution, the potato shrunk in size because the concentration
in the water is much greater than inside of the potato cell. The potato in the sugar
solution stayed in its original size because the concentration is equal. The potato
swelled in the water because the concentration is greater on the inside than the outside
of potato cell. These results show that the water molecules inside the cell of the
potatoes moved from a low concentrated region to a high concentrated region through
the semipermeable membrane. Thus, in order for osmosis to happen there must be a
semipermeable membrane which separates two regions that has different concentration
of solvent molecules. Osmosis can also be observed on how plant cells get water from
the soil and the process of respiration where plant cells absorbs water from their roots.

RECOMMENDATION
In performing experiments, errors are sometimes inevitable especially when
complications happened. For instance, some experiments were infested by ants. To
achieve more accurate data and result in performing potato osmosis in the future, the
group members recommend working on this experiment effectively. Cut the potatoes
with more uniformity and precision. Same with the solutions, make sure to have an
accurate measurement that will be enough for the potatoes to soaked in. Also,
submerge the potatoes in each solution at the same time. Avoid leaving the experiment
too long because it can cause contamination. Furthermore, consider a controlled room
temperature to maintain more reliable result.
Bibliography

Keplen, P. (2016) A Sample of A Simple Potato Osmosis Lab. Retrieved 25 July 2018
from https://www.prolificresearchpaperwriters.com/19-coursework-writing-help/223-buy-
potato-osmosis-lab-reports
Osmosis Experiment For Kids: Potato, Water, and Salt. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://blog.udemy.com/osmosis-experiment/