1. Why did some potato samples gain water and others lose water? Was there any pattern?

The cubed potato submerged in 1 cup of distilled water according to what the result showed, there
is minimal decrease in size therefore water is still lost, this can be attributed to the capability of
water as a universal solvent. The 3% hypertonic solution of water has decreased the size of the
potato submerged to it. The 5% solution, which is also hypertonic to the potato submerged also
showed the capability of pulling out the water from the cells of the potato, hence resulted to tissue
shrinking and showed greatest decrease in size. In an ideal setup, placing a potato in an isotonic
solution may result to minimal or no change in size, while placing it in a hypotonic solution should
result to tissue swelling and placing it in a hypertonic solution should shrink the potato.

2. Why can't we use seawater to irrigate our crops?

-Salt water can’t be used to irrigate our crops because when saltwater enters the soil, the plant tries to
absorb it throughout its roots like normal water. Saltwater does not allow osmosis through the plant tissues.
It is so dense that the salt solution draws water out of the plant, dehydrating and eventually killing it.

3. What happens when a thirsty person drinks salt water to try to quench their thirst?

Salt water is hypertonic, so the salty water would increase the person's thirst, since the higher solute
concentrations in the water would draw water out of the person's cells, rendering the person more
dehydrated.

4. What happens to a cell's water when the exterior liquid is saltier than its interior?

The water will be pulled out from the cell, hence, the cell will shrink.

5. What happens to water outside the cell when the interior is saltier than its surroundings?

The water will be pulled into the cell, hence will swell the cell.

6. When a cell gains or loses water, what happens to its size?

When a cell gains water the size will increase, and if it loses water the size will decrease

7. Challenge question: Saltwater fish are hypotonic (less salty) to their surroundings while freshwater
fish are hypertonic (more salty) to their surroundings. Assuming the salt can't move, what must each
fish do with its fluids in order to compensate for the difference in salinity between the body and the
surrounding environment?

Saltwater fishes have lower concentration of salt in their body, they constantly lose water as a result
and to adapt to this, they need to replace their water loss by continually drinking seawater and release
highly concentrated urine hence less in water volume to maintain a hypotonic circulation.

Just like Saltwater fishes, freshwater fishes have to do the same process but in an opposite manner.
Their bodies will tend to pull in water to their body, and to compensate, they need to release urine in
high volume but less in concentration.