OSMOSIS IN POTATO CELLS MARKING SCHEME 21 marks

Construct a graph of results:

 Graph is a line graph ½ and independent variable is on the X axis ½

 Data points are accurately plotted 1 mark
 Graph has a clear title that links the dependent and independent variable. 1
mark
 Axes have correct labels with units of measurement where appropriate. 1 mark
 The scale intervals are evenly spaced and appropriate 1 TOTAL 5 marks

Change in mass of potato disks when placed in sucrose solutions of different

concentrations

Discussion Questions:
1a) Which substance/s in your water Score
sucrose solution is the cell
membrane permeable to? /½
b) If there is a net decrease in
the mass of the disks, is the Moving out of the potato cells
above substance moving into or
out of the potato cells?
/½

2) In which sucrose solution, The water concentration is higher in the 0.2M sucrose /1
1.0M or 0.2M is the solution
concentration of water
molecules higher?
3) Explain the change in the
mass of the 20 disks of potato
placed in 1M sucrose solution
over the period of your
experiment.
4a) From your graph, what
concentration of sucrose gave
(or would give) no change in
mass of the 20 potato disks? If
your graph does not show this,
estimate a value. You can give a
range if necessary
4b) Explain why there is/would
be no change in mass at this
concentration
5) What term is used to describe
the solution outside of the cell in
relation to the cell contents
when:
a) water moves into the
potato cells?
b) water moves out of the
potato cells?
6) Consider the design of the
experiment
The 20 slices of potato would decrease in mass. /2
The water concentration inside the potato cells is higher
than that of the surrounding sucrose solution
OR
The solute concentration in the sucrose solution
surrounding the potato slices was higher than to
concentration of solute inside the cell.
OR
The 1M sucrose solution was hypertonic to the potato
cells.(1)
AND
Thus there is a net loss of water molecules by osmosis,
from the cells into the solution OR Thus water moved
from an area of higher water concentration(the cells) to
an area of lower water concentration(the solutions)
causing a loss in mass of the potato slices over time.(1)
Underline point are where marks are allocated
/1
Results from student graph(1)
At this point /2
the solute concentration of the sucrose solution is
equal to the concentration of solute inside the potato
cells
OR
the sucrose solution of would be isotonic to the potato
cells (1)
OR
The water concentration of sucrose solution is equal to
the water concentration inside the potato cells.
AND
so no net movement of water by osmosis thus no mass
change.(1)
/½
hypotonic
/½
hypertonic
 a) What is the independent
variable in this
experiment?
b) What is the dependent
variable in this
experiment
7) Outline one strength of this
investigation
8) State two of the controlled
variables in this experiment
The concentration of sucrose in the solution /1
/1
The mass of the potato slices
20 slices were used for each solution. This enabled
clearer mass changes to be recorded than if just one
slice was used as the mass change would be smaller in
such a case.
OR /1
Having 20 small slices provided a greater overall
surface area in contact with the solution compared to if
a long cylinder was used. This enables a larger mass
change
OR
Two groups gathered data for each of the solutions.
This enabled results to be compared and averaged OR
this enabled us to check the reliability of results
OR
That an evenly spread range of sucrose solutions were
used to give a range of results that showed the effect of
different solution well.
NO MARKS ARE AWARDED IF ANSWER IS NOT
CLEAR OR TOO GENERAL/VAGUE
SUCH AS:
“It is clear and easy to see the results from the osmosis
when comparing levels of sucrose.”
“the method was simple and easy to follow”
“ the results allowed us to clearly see the effect of
solutions on osmosis”
ANY TWO of /2
Same size and shape of potato disks OR Same
volume and surface area of potato disk
Same volume of solution used (each 50ml) in each
dish,
Each dish was covered with a lid
Each set of disks were placed in same type of
container(petri dish) and a lid was place on the top
of each one
The potato disk were exposed to the solution for
the close to the same amount of time (although this
was actually not well controlled as some may have
differed by 5-10 mins)
9) Suggest ONE possible  Time was not well controlled. Groups had their
weakness of the experiment? disks in the solution for slightly different /1
amounts of time
 Disks of potato were not evenly distributed in
the petri dish and if potato disks are touching
each other this might reduce exposed surface
area across which diffusion can occur.
 People’s drying of potato disks varied and this
lead to differences in results.

10) EXPLAIN the most To maintain the same/correct/ a stable

important reason for covering concentration of sucrose solution in each dish for /2
each petri dish a lid or with cling the duration of the experiment,(1 mark) by
wrap for the duration of the minimizing evaporation of water from the dish. (1
experiment? mark)