Question

. A student cut three identical slices from a potato. She determined the mass of each slice. She then placed them in labeled beakers and added a different solution to each beaker. After 30 minutes, she removed each potato slice from its solution, removed the excess liquid with a paper towel, and determined the mass of each slice. The change in mass was calculated and the results are shown in the data table below.

Change in Mass of Potato in Different Solutions: Initial Mass 17.0 grams, 17.6 grams , 16.4 grams / Final Mass 22.0 grams ,17.6 grams ,15.8 grams

Identify the process that is responsible for the change in mass of each of the three slices. _Explain why the potato slice in beaker 1 increased in mass._________

Answer 1

Initial mass (I)	Final mass (F)	Difference (F-I)	Type of external solution	Final shape of cell
17	22	5	hypotonic	swelled up/turgid
17.6	17.6	0	isotonic	no change/flaccid
16.4	15.8	0.6	hypertonic	shrink/plasmolysed

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of higher water concentration to a region of lower water concentration through selectively permeable membrane. The answer to this question is based upon the law of osmosis.

An isotonic cell solution is the one which is having an equal concentration of solute with respect to the external solution. In this care there will be no net movement of water and therefore no change in the shape of the cell.

A hypotonic solution is the one which is having less concentration of solute with respect to the external solution. In this case, water will move inside the cell and it will result in the swelling of cell.

A hypertonic solution is the one which is having more concentration of solute with respect to the external solution. In this case, water will exit the cell and the cell will shrink.

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