This document outlines an experiment to investigate the effect of different solutions on potato slices through osmosis. Potato slices were placed in glucose, saline, and distilled water solutions for 3 days. It was hypothesized that the glucose solution would cause the greatest change due to its higher concentration. The potato slices immersed in glucose solution experienced the highest percentage weight change of 10.57%, while those in saline changed 9.72%. However, the results for distilled water were inconclusive as the potato slices completely dissolved. In conclusion, the hypothesis that glucose would cause the greatest effect was supported, but the experiment could be improved by controlling temperature and using larger potato slices.

1. Osmosis Lab Investigation
1. General Purpose:
The general purpose of this lab is to investigate the effect that a solution has on a living
cell. As solutions can be classified as a hypertonic or a hypotonic solution, the results would vary
on whether which solution is used. The results of this investigation will be quantifiable and will be
measured by their weights.
2. Question:
What effect does distilled water, glucose and saline have on potatoes if they are immersed
in the solutions for a period of time?
3. Hypothesis:
From general knowledge, I predict that the glucose solution will have the greatest effect on
a piece of potato because it’s concentration is the highest, thus through the process of osmosis,
the potato will lost most of it’s water and will shrivel. Because this solution has the highest
concentration, water will need to be transferred across the selectively permeable membrane in
order to establish a concentration equilibrium.
4. Variables:
Independent: The type of solution used
Dependent: The mass of the potato piece after it has been put in the solutions
Controlled Variables: Size of potato used, Location, The time that each potato piece is in the
solution
5. Materials:
• 9 slices of potatoes
• Knife and a cutting board
• Cylinder slice cutter
• 9 test tubes
• Test tube rack
• Distilled water
• 15 % saline solution
• 15 % glucose solution
• Electronic balance
• Masking tape
• Tweezer
6. Procedure:
1. Wash the potato in order to remove all dirt and residue
2. Using the cylinder potato cutter, cut out about 4 to 5 pieces out
3. Using a knife, cut the cylinders of potato horizontally by 2 cm each
4. Measure their weight on an electronic balance
5. Label all the test tubes according to their solution with masking tape
6. Record their weight on the test tubes
7. Place each piece of potato in their own individual test tubes

2. 8. Fill each test tube with their assigned solution until the whole piece of potato is submerged
9. Leave all the test tubes in a test tube rack and place them in a shaded place
10. Come check on the experiment later in 3 days
11. Record their final weight
7. Data Table and Analysis:
Type of Weight before Weight after placed Average Average Percentag
solution placed in solution in solution (grams) weight weight e of
(grams) before after change
(grams) (grams) (%)
Glucose 3.02 3.12 3.22 2.74 2.78 2.85 3.12 2.79 10.57
Saline 3.29 3.08 3.20 3.01 2.74 2.90 3.19 2.88 9.72
Distilled 3.18 3.01 3.32 N/A N/A N/A 3.17 N/A N/A
Water
8. Graph:
Percentage)of)change)in)mass)a;er)
the)process)of)osmosis)
12"
Percentage)of)Change)(%))
10"
8"
6"
4"
Percentage"of"Change"(%)"
2"
0"
Glucose" Saline" Dis4lled"
Water"
Type)of)Solu7on)
9. Conclusion:
During this investigation, the results were very clear however, one type of solution made
the outcome very difficult to determine. By the time we came back to check on our experiment, all
of the potato pieces in the distilled water solution was completely dispersed. The material was
unfeasible and was not able to measured its weight. This was a major setback for our
investigation, nevertheless the other results came out just fine. To conclude, I accept my
hypothesis as it states that the glucose solution will have the most effect on the potatoes, which
came out true. The percentage of change was the greatest compared to the others. Unfortunately,
we did not have the data for the distilled water solution, which made the results of this experiment
quite unclear. However, with the data we have, I can determine that the glucose solution made the
highest percentage of change. One source of error was also the temperature of the room which we
could not control. The temperature of the room might have affected the rate of which osmosis
occurred. I were to perform this experiment again, I would have used a bigger piece of potato
since it would have displayed a much clear change in mass. The smaller piece was ineffective as it
was completely disseminated by the time we checked on them again.