FOUNDATION IN SCIENCE

FHSB1214 BIOLOGY I
JUNE 2021 TRIMESTER
LAB REPORT 1
Lab 6: Cell Transport I

NAME: TRAVIS THEN KAI HONG

STUDENT ID: 2102363
PRACTICAL GROUP: P13
DATE: 31/7/2021
LECTURER: Harttini Neeni binti Hatta

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 MARKING RUBRIC

Title According to lab manual /1

Objective (s) According to lab manual /1
Apparatus and materials List of all apparatus and materials /1
Procedures - ALL steps are illustrated in a flow chart /2
- Correct use of language in description
Results Include table and graph (-12)
Table - Informative title that connects manipulating and responding /5
variables
- Gridlines
- Appropriate headings
- Units shown in headings
- Precision and decimal points
Graph - Informative title that connects manipulating and responding /7
variables
- x-axis labelled
- y-axis labelled
- Unit shown in x-axis
- Unit shown in y-axis
- Appropriate scale used
- Points plotted and best fit line
Discussion - Able to interpret results using relevant theory and knowledge
- Include inaccuracies of data and justify experiment outcome
(anomaly) with possible reasons
- Suggestion for improvement /8
Conclusion - Isotonic concentration of potato cell sap based on the graph /1
plotted
References - At least 3 references properly cited /1
- APA format sixth edition
Format -Neatness, marking rubric, cover page and etc. (refer to WBLE) (-2)
-Microsoft Word
Late submission - Submission after deadline (-50 %)

Plagiarism - Similarity to other people work (-50 %)

Total /27

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Title: Determination of the Isotonic Concentration of the Potato Cell Sap

Objectives: To determine the isotonic concentration of a potato cell sap

Apparatus and materials:

Apparatus:
Boiling tubes
Boiling tube rack
Knife
Ruler
Forceps
Graduated glass pipette
Electronic balance

Materials:
1M sodium chloride solution
Distilled water
Potato
Tissue paper

Procedures:
Flow chart

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Procedures (Description):
1. 20 𝒄𝒎𝟑 of NaCl solutions at concentrations of 0.0M, 0.1M, 0.2M, 0.3M, 0.4M and 0.5M from
the stock solution is prepared through dilution technique into their respective boiling tubes.
The volumes of solution and that of distilled water used is recorded in the table below.
Title: Volume of 1.0M NaCl solution and distilled water used to achieve desired molarity.
Molarity 0.0M 0.1M 0.2M 0.3M 0.4M 0.5M
Volume of 1.0M NaCl 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0
solution (𝒄𝒎𝟑 )
Volume of distilled 20.0 18.0 16.0 14.0 12.0 10.0
water (𝒄𝒎𝟑 )

2. 18 cubes of potato tissue were prepared into equal sizes of (1cm × 1cm × 1cm) using a knife.
3. The weight of 3 potato cubes was measured all at once and are placed into a test tube. Step was
repeated for the other test tubes.
4. The cubes were removed after 30 minutes using forceps and were wiped with tissue paper.
5. The final weight of the potato cubes was measured and the change in average weight of potato
cubes is measured and tabulated.
6. Graph for the change in average weight of potato cubes and the concentration of the NaCl
solution is plotted with a best fit line.

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Results:
Title: Weight of potato cubes before and after being placed in NaCl solution with concentrations of
0.0M, 0.1M, 0.2M, 0.3M, 0.4M, 0.5M for 30 minutes.
Weight of potato cubes (g) Concentration of NaCl solution (M)
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Initial weight of 3 cubes 4.03 5.57 6.10 4.84 4.09 5.30
Average initial weight 1.34 1.86 2.03 1.61 1.36 1.77
Final weight of 3 cubes 4.23 5.64 6.00 4.66 3.93 4.78
Average final weight 1.41 1.88 2.00 1.55 1.31 1.59
Change in average weight 0.07 0.02 -0.03 -0.06 -0.05 -0.18

Graph:

Change in average weight of a potato cube by different

concentrations of NaCl solution
0.1

0.05

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Change in
average weight -0.05
(g)

-0.1

-0.15

-0.2
Concentration of NaCl solution (M)

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Discussion (not more than 1 page):
Potato cubes have been immersed in NaCl solutions of different molarity. They have been cut
into cubes to increase surface area exposure which in turn increases the rate of osmosis from the NaCl
solution to the potato cells and vice versa. Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a selectively
permeable membrane down the concentration gradient until the solute concentration in the cell and
that of the solute is at equilibrium. The diffusion of water across a membrane generates a pressure
called osmotic pressure. Furthermore, potato cells contain vacuoles which stores water, they play a
vital role in cellular osmoregulation. The goal of this experiment is to determine the isotonic
concentration of the potato cell sap. A solution is described as isotonic when the other solution being
compared with having the same (or equal) osmotic pressure and same water potential since the two
solutions have an equal concentration of water molecules (Mathias, 2005).

When the NaCl solution is at molarity of 0.0M and 0.1M, it can be seen that the potato cubes
gain weight. This is due to diffusion of water into the potato cells from the NaCl solution. From this
we can establish that the NaCl solution of these molarities are hypotonic to the potato cells. Normally,
the diffusion of water into a cell would cause cell cytolysis. However, in the case of potato cells, the
rigid cell wall protects the cell from bursting and the vacuoles take up the excess water pushing up the
cell membrane against the cell wall. This is known as turgor pressure. Turgor is generated through
osmotically driven inflow of water into cells across a selectively permeable membrane (Fricke, 2017).

When the NaCl solution is at molarity of 0.2M, 0.3M, 0.4M and 0.5M, results show that the
potato cubes lose weight. This is due to diffusion of water out the potato cells into the NaCl solution.
The concentration gradient of water in the potato cells is higher than that of the solution which shows
that these molarities of NaCl solution is hypertonic to the potato cells. As potato cells have cell walls,
they do not crenate nor do they shrink in size. They plasmolyze, causing gaps between the cell wall
and the plasma membrane. The plasmolytic process is mainly driven by the vacuole (Lang, 2014). The
vacuole shrinks in size due to the loss of water.

In this experiment, an inaccuracy can be found in cutting the potatoes into cubes of 1𝒄𝒎𝟑 . The
method of cutting and measuring using just a knife and ruler will lead to human error. To overcome
this, a cork borer may be used to pre-shape the potatoes into smaller pieces for more accurate cutting.
Another method will be to use the TruSlice Digital Specimen Grossing System. With all the benefits of
the TruSlice system, TruSlice Digital utilizes an adjustable moving knife guide rather than color
coded inserts. Incorporating a digital display, users can quickly vary slice thickness from 1mm to
10mm, offering greater flexibility to the user (Ted Pella Incorporated, 2015).

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Conclusion:
The isotonic concentration of the potato cell sap is determined when the molarity of the NaCl solution
is at 0.16M. This shows that the solution at this molarity is an isotonic solution to the potato cell sap,
the net movement of water in and out the potato cell is 0 thus the potato cell does not lose mass.

References:

Fricke, W. (2017, January 16). Turgor Pressure. Wiley Online Library:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/9780470015902.a0001687.pub2

Lang, I., Sassmann, S., Schmidt, B., Komis, G. (2014, December 3). Plasmolysis: Loss of Turgor and
Beyond. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4844282/?report=classic

Mathias, R. T. (2005). Isotonic. Retrieved from Biology Online:

https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/isotonic

Ted Pella, Inc. (2015). TruSlice Tissue Slicing Systems. Ted Pella, Inc. on Microscopy Products for Science
and Industry: https://www.tedpella.com/dissect_html/TruSlice.htm.aspx