BIOLOGY COURSEWORK: How the Concentration of

Sucrose affects Osmosis in plant cells

AIM: To investigate how changing the concentration of sucrose can

affect the osmosis in plant cells

RESEARCH

Definition of Osmosis:

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from an area of high water

concentration (weak solution) to an area of low water concentration
(strong solution) through a partially permeable membrane. Water moves
in both ways in order to balance the concentrations evenly. It is known as
a net movement of water into there are where there is less water.

Water molecules move random with a certain amount of kinetic energy.

Distilled water separated by a partially permeable membrane looks like in
the diagram below:

Water molecules are moving from

one side of the membranes to the
other but there is NO NET
OSMOSIS.

If a substance is dissolved in
water, the kinetic energy of the
water molecules is LOWERED.
This is because some water
molecules collect on the surface
of the other molecules…

In osmosis, the potential of the

water molecules to move- is
known as the OSMOTIC
POTENTIAL. Distilled water has
the highest potential (zero). When
water has another substance
dissolved in it, the water
molecules have less potential to
move. The osmotic potential is
NEGATIVE. Water molecules
always move from less negative
to more negative water potential
(meaning from pure water to a
more concentrated solution).

Now net osmosis can be understood as:

LESS NEGATIVE MORE NEGATIVE (look in diagram below)

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 On the other hand, the osmotic potential of a cell is known as the water
potential.

Cell membranes are completely permeable to water therefore, the

environment the cell is exposed to can have a dramatic effect on the cell.

When there is a high concentration of sucrose and a low concentration of

water- this is called a hypotonic solution. This is where water passes into
the vacuole by osmosis since the water molecules in the solution is
attracted to the other water molecules in the cell, this is known as net
endosmosis occurring and the cell becomes turgid. The vacuole pushes
against the cell wall, and this in turn tops the cell from bursting.

The cell is
turgid.

The cell is flaccid and

causes plasmolysis.

This is in the
For units of For
Water potential of cytoplasm=
example: osmotic Water potential of cytoplasm=
example:
- 50 pressure - 50
Osmotic potential of solution= Osmotic potential of solution=
- 20 - 80
When a solution is hypertonic, it contains a low concentration of solute (in
this case sucrose) and a high amount of water. In this situation, water is
caused to diffuse out of the cell- this process is known as exosmosis. This
makes a few changes to the shape of the cell, such as it shrivels and wilts.
It becomes flaccid, in which the cell would feel soft, limp and weak. If a lot
of water leaves the cell, the cytoplasm starts to peel away from the cell
wall (but the cell wall still keeps intact). This is where the cell has
undergone plasmolysis.

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If the osmotic potential of the solution is the SAME as the water potential
of the cell, which in my case, is where the sucrose and distilled water both
have the concentration of 0.5M. The solution is called isotonic.

In an isotonic
For Example: solution, no net
Water potential of cytoplasm= osmosis occurs.
- 50 The cell is not
Osmotic potential of solution= plasmolysed, but
- 50 it’s neither full
(This is the osmotic pressure) turgid either.

HYPOTHESIS

From my background research, I predict that the more concentrated the

solution (the more sucrose it contains), the lower the osmotic potential is.
The plant cell (in this case potato cell) would become flaccid, as water has
moved out of the cell causing the mass to have decreased. As
concentration of sucrose decreases, and the concentration of dilute water
increases, the mass of the potato cell will become turgid and strong. It will
gain mass as water diffuses into the cell.

I predict that graph will look like this

because if the concentration of sucrose is
0.5 M of sucrose low, then the water potential is lower on
solution and dilute the outside and higher on the inside, and
water so water will move in the cell, meaning
the cell will gain in mass. This will cause
the points on the graph to be positive
when it comes to percentage mass
change, and after 0.5 M, the
concentration of water becomes more
less than the sucrose solution meaning
the water potential is high on the outside
but low in the inside of the cell, therefore
water moves out. The cell loses mass, so
the percentage mass change becomes
negative- so it will be placed in the
negative section of the graph-below zero.
At concentration 0.5M, the solution will be isotonic; therefore, the % mass
change should be at zero as no net osmosis should occur, therefore no
water should diffuse in or out of the cell, and so should not affect the mass
of the cell at all.

I have planned a simple procedure in order to carry out this investigation:

Apparatus/Equipments:

♦ Sucrose Solution and Water (two beakers to hold them)

♦ Weighing machine

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 ♦ 2 Measuring Cylinders (small ones- with the range from 0-1cm
cubed)
♦ Borer (to cut the potato cell)
♦ Stop Watch and Test tube rack
♦ 10 test tubes for each of the ten concentrations
Method

1. Put lab coat on and collect all equipments.

2. Firstly, we will experiment with the concentration of 0.1 of sucrose
solution. Therefore pour, 0.1cm cubed of using a measuring cylinder
of the sucrose, and pour in 0.9cm cubed of water into a beaker.
3. Cut out using the borer, 10 (same size) blocks of potato pieces (and
make sure you know which one is for which test tube- for this it
would be a good idea to put it into chronological order)
4. Weigh all twenty potato blocks and record their mass
5. Place them all into their supposed test tube with the right
concentration into at the same time, and allow half an hour for
osmosis to carry out.
6. After half an hour, dry the potato blocks/cells
7. Weigh them and record the results

The evidence I will collect is the measurement of the mass loss/gained. To

do this I will record the weight of the plant cell at first and then after
adding it into the concentration, I will leave it there for a certain amount if
time and then record the mass of the plant cell afterwards. I will then
subtract the initial mass from that which will give me the difference. This
will either be the mass gained or loss (resulting a value either negative or
positive). I will also find out the % mass change, in which I will divide mass
change by initial mass and then multiply by a hundred.

Variables (Dependant):
♦ Percentage change in mass

Controls (Independent Variables):

♦ Shape of sample potato

♦ Concentration of surface- range
♦ Container- pressure of fluid
♦ Temperature
♦ Time
♦ Method of drying
♦ Volume of solution used

I will record my results in a table, and then represent them on a graph for
visual evidence; this will allow me to distinguish any patterns of such.

The range of concentration I am going to test is from pure water with the
concentration of zero molars, to one molar- complete sucrose solution,
testing each one: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 and finally 1
molar. I will use the measuring cylinders to dilute the sucrose solution
according to the amount needed to make that particular concentration.
(E.g. I will dilute 0.6M with distil water to make a sucrose solution of 0.4).

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 PRELIMINARY WORK

To get an idea of what the experiment is like at first hand I did some
preliminary work. This way I can find what apparatus we would be using,
be more efficient in the real experiment and finally to help us make a
decision such as how long to leave the cell potatoes in the solution and
the size of potato cell. We can be more prepared in the real experiment
we would be more prepared, more in control, and to see if we wanted to
change anything, such as perhaps use a different range of concentration
and maybe better equipment that make the results more accurate.

Even before the preliminary, I prepared a table to record the results and of
what I will be measuring:

Mass Before Mass After Mass Change % Change in Average

Concentration (M) Repeat (g) (g) (g) Mass %
1
0.1 2
1
0.2 2
1
0.3 2
1
0.4 2
1
0.5 2
1
0.6 2
1
0.7 2
1
0.8 2
1
0.9 2
1
1 2

During the preliminary, my partner collected the ten test tubes (as we
were testing ten different concentrations), along with a test tube rack. One
of us filled each test tube with the correct amount of distilled water, while
the other one did the amount of sucrose. Once that was sorted, grabbing
one potato, we first made the mistake of cutting the potato in half and
slicing it into cubes. We did not realise later on that we were supposed to
use a special tool (NAME) that would cut out cylinder tube-like pieces of
potato. So using another potato, we skinned the skin (since the skin is like
a barrier and so getting rid of it would allow the process of osmosis to
occur more efficiently) and placing them in chronologic order on a tile, we
weighed each one.

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 Recording the measurement, we placed them in the
test tubes which were also placed in the same
chronological order (so we don’t get mixed up) as
fast as we could as we wanted all the potato
blocks/cells to have the same amount of time to be
in the solution. Once we did that, we left it for half an
hour.

Concentratio Weight Before Weight After Mass % Change

n Change
0.1 1.30 1.29 -0.01 -0.77
0.2 1.20 1.18 -0.02 -1.67
0.3 1.25 1.17 -0.08 -6.40
0.4 1.28 1.18 -0.1 -7.81
0.5 1.22 1.10 -0.12 -9.84
0.6 1.24 1.09 -0.15 -12.10
0.7 1.11 0.98 -0.13 -11.71
0.8 1.18 1.03 -0.15 -12.71
0.9 1.20 0.95 -0.25 -20.83
1 1.28 1.08 -0.2 -15.63

We did not do any repeats (because we forgot); we found that our results
came out to what we didn’t quite expect. I expected it to be having gained
mass for the first five concentrations. In fact, according to my research, I
had expected that at concentration 0.5, there would not have been any
mass gained or lost (but I believe I’m expecting too much from this
experiment to receive exactly 0.00 g not gained or lost). After
concentration 0.5, I would think it would start losing mass- from our
results, I can see that this much has at least happened.

WHAT WE LEARNT FROM THE PRELIMINARY

♦ Leave it for a longer amount of time (for example three hours,

instead of half an hour)
♦ Use bigger potato blocks (hence use a bigger of that weird tool)
♦ We decided to keep the same range of concentrations
♦ Use a pipette to make accurate measurements
♦ Measure mass up to two decimals
♦ Next time to have 20 test tubes, to repeat the experiment twice so
we can obtain reliable results

IN REAL EXPERIMENT:

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Apparatus/Equipment

♦ Sucrose Solution and Water (two beakers to hold them)

♦ Weighing machine
♦ 2 Measuring Cylinders (from the range of 0 to 1cm cubed)
♦ Stop Watch
♦ Borer (to cut the potato cell)
♦ 20 test tubes for each of the ten concentrations (and repeated
again)
♦ Pipette
♦ Paper Towels to dry/rinse the potato cell when they come out of
the test tube
♦ Test tube rack

Method

1. Put lab coat on and collect all equipments.

2. Firstly, we will experiment with the concentration of 0.1 of sucrose
solution. Therefore pour, 1cm cubed of using a measuring cylinder
of the sucrose, and pour in 9cm cubed of water into a beaker.
3. Cut out using the borer, 20 (same size) blocks of potato pieces (and
make sure you know which one is for which test tube- for this it
would be a good idea to put it into chronological order)
4. Weigh all twenty potato blocks and record their mass
5. Place them all into their supposed test tube with the right
concentration into at the same time, and allow half an hour for
osmosis to carry out.
6. After half an hour, dry the potato blocks/cells
7. Weigh them and record the result

OBTAINING THE EVIDENCE

We collected evidence safely and were relevant to the aim by weighing

the potato cell before putting it into the sucrose solution and then after, if
it loses mass then we know that water has left the cell, and if it gains
mass we know that water has entered the cell. This will tell us how
osmosis works through different concentrations.

We recorded the results in a tale as shown below, and then drawn a graph
to show visual evidence and to see if there is a pattern or trend between
the results.
From the table, I have repeated the experiment and have taken the
average of the two sets of results; this has helped me produce more
accurate results than if I were to do the investigation only once.
I used pipettes/syringes to make accurate measurements when pouring
the sucrose solution and diluting it with distilled water.

OBSERVATIONS

I realised that as I went down to the test tubes that held the higher
concentrated sucrose solution, when I came to weigh the potato cell, it felt
soft, mushy, weak, and limp. I could easily tear it in half or squash it. On
the other hand, when I was weighing the potato cells in the less

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 concentrated sucrose solution they felt tough, strong, hard, and rigid. It
was after concentration 0.7 M, where quite a lot of water seemed to have
diffused out of the cell because, it was then where I felt the cell were
really weak, limp, and flaccid. The cell felt hard and turgid at
concentration 0.1M of sucrose solution (high concentration of dilute water
-0.9 M).

ANALYSIS

My results show that during the process of osmosis within the time of two
hours and thirty-five minutes, (12.30pm - 3.05pm) the mass of the potato
cells have changed. The results indicate that as the concentration of
sucrose increases, the percentage of mass change becomes more
negative. The results also tells me that as the concentration of sucrose
decreases, and the amount of dilute water increases, the percentage mass
change becomes a more of a positive value.

It also appears that after the concentration of 0.5M (including itself), the %
mass change is always a negative value afterwards.

Result Table to show how different concentrations of sucrose solution can

affect the mass of a potato cell during osmosis

Mass Before Mass After Mass Change % Change in Average

Concentration (M) Repeat (g) (g) (g) Mass %
1 1.62 1.85 0.23 14
0.1 2 1.62 1.84 0.22 14 14
1 1.65 1.79 0.14 8
0.2 2 1.64 1.75 0.11 7 8
1 1.61 1.71 0.10 6
0.3 2 1.63 1.72 0.09 6 6
1 1.56 1.61 0.05 3
0.4 2 1.55 1.6 0.05 3 3
1 1.62 1.37 -0.25 -15
0.5 2 1.60 1.39 -0.21 -13 -14
1 1.64 1.27 -0.37 -23
0.6 2 1.63 1.27 -0.36 -22 -22
1 1.64 1.19 -0.45 -27
0.7 2 1.65 1.17 -0.48 -29 -28
1 1.62 1.11 -0.51 -31
0.8 2 1.61 1.09 -0.52 -32 -32
1 1.65 0.99 -0.66 -40
0.9 2 1.66 1.02 -0.64 -39 -39
1 1.70 0.97 -0.73 -43
1 2 1.71 0.99 -0.72 -42 -43

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I made a graph where I have calculated the average percentage change in
mass, as it would be easy to plot on the graph. These were my
calculations in order to get the results that I have now:

Take the ‘Mass After’ from the ‘Mass Before’ to get the mass change. Then
divide ‘Mass Change’ by ‘Mass Before’ and then multiply it by hundred to
get the mass change percentage. You do this with second set of result.
You then add both ‘% Change in Mass’ and divide by two to work out the
‘Average %’ in change in mass.

The pattern seen in the graph is that the higher the sucrose concentration,
the more mass is lost; and the higher the concentration of dilute water,
the more mass is gained. You can see this trend/pattern, as I have drawn a
line of best fit, which goes from top left to bottom right, meaning there is a
negative correlation.

From the graph, I draw a conclusion that when there is a high

concentration of sucrose, the water potential is greater on the outside
than in the inside of the potato cell, as there is more water inside the cell
compared to the outside. Therefore, it tries to even the water potential on
both sides, so water diffuses out of the cell and into the solution.

This diagram illustrates

the water molecules
moving OUT of the cell,
when in a HIGH
concentrated sucrose
solution.

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From
concentrations ♦ Water moves OUT.
0.1 and 0.3, the ♦ Mass decreases.
percentage mass ♦ % Mass Change is
change is negative
positive. ♦ The cell becomes
flaccid

However as the concentrations become stronger, the values begin

to become negative (e.g. 0.7 has the percentage mass of -28).

This diagram illustrates

the water molecules
moving INTO the cell,
when in a LOW
concentrated sucrose
solution.

♦ Water moves IN.

♦ Mass increases.
♦ % Mass Change is
positive
♦ The cell becomes turgid

Plasmolysis:

It is hard to actually tell on the graph when EXACTLY plasmolysis had

occurred. Yet, I can definitely say that at the concentration of 1M,
plasmolysis did happen since according to my background research, a lot
of water would have diffused out of the cell, meaning a great amount of
mass is lost. My graph can also prove this since the lowest plot/point that
ha the greatest mass lost is for concentration of 1M.

However, if I take my observations into account (from obtaining evidence)

then according to that, at concentration 0.7M is where the potato blocks
started to feel weak, limp and it was looking thinner or narrower than the
previous ones.

My conclusion supports my prediction because I had stated that as

concentration of sucrose increases, the mass of the potato cell would
decrease, so the percentage mass of the potato cell will be negative. On
the other hand, when the concentration of distil water increases, water

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moves into the potato cell and so mass is gained. The percentage mass
change is positive. This is proven by the fact that there is a straight line of
best, which shows that there is correlation/relationship between my
results, and that my plots are very close to the line.

EVALUATION

I think the experiment went overall okay, I believe we could have

still got better results, but despite that, I think the results we have are still
worth value and consideration as when they are plotted on the graph, it
does support my prediction and produces a conclusion.
I have identified several anomalies as they are circled in pencil on
the graph. None of them is seriously out of the odd or far out, as all of
them are fairly close to the line of best fit.

Possibilities that can explain the anomalies

♦ I did in fact use two different potatoes, where both of them could have
grown in a different environment and contain different nutrients and
minerals, including different water amounts inside them
♦ The size of the cell: May not have been very accurate, because firstly
the potato was round, and was not cut into a perfect cube – this was
partly because it would be too small by the time it was cut down to a
cube (and there wouldn’t have been enough space to cut out potato
cells)
♦ The borer sometimes did not cut properly, it left out slight gaps in the
corners
♦ Despite using pipettes, the measurements of the two solutions may
have been inaccurate due to human error
♦ The weighing machine may have had a few faulty measures
♦ Drying the potato cell may not have been done properly

How well my results support my conclusion:

I think my results are reliable to a certain extent; because as you see from
my table, I believe that my first and second sets of results are moderately
close and therefore producing accurate average % mass change results.
This produces better evidence and proof that will support my conclusion.
Four of my points go through the line of best fit

% Change in Mass I have three

14 pairs or results
14 that are the
8 same, which
7 shows very
6 good accuracy.
6
3
3
-15 The rest of the results
-13 only have the difference
-23 of either one or two %
-22 which is quite good, if
they are closer, this
means better accuracy
of the results. (The
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further apart they are
the less accurate results
you get)
 -27
-29
-31
-32
-40
-39
-43
-42

The isotonic solution:

In my hypothesis, I predicted that the line would cross the x-axis at

concentration 0.5M, which is when it should be in an isotonic solution- the
concentration of distil water and sucrose solution should be equal. In
theory, no osmosis should occur, so the percentage mass change should
be at zero (crosses x-axis). According to my results, and on the graph, the
point where this is supposed to happen did not in fact occur at the
concentration 0.5M. My line of best fit crosses the x-axis at 0.34 when no
osmosis occurs. This could be considered partially as an anomaly as it
does not fit in with the theory; however the line of best fit does go through
it.

How my experiment was suitable:

♦ I think the time I left it for was reasonable enough

♦ I am pleased with my concentration range, I reckon it was suitable and
with enough points to make a good graph with a smooth curve or a
straight line
♦ Finding out the mass before the potato cells were put into the solution
and then comparing it with mass after osmosis had taken place was a
good way of showing how osmosis works and how it affected the plant
cells’ shape and structure

Improvements of the Experiment

♦ Repeat it for a third time

♦ Use one potato only- and a larger one so you have enough to cut out
2o equal potatoes
♦ Use biurettes or syringes (better equipment) to make more accurate
measurements
♦ Despite the fact that I am happy with the amount of time I left the
potato cells for osmosis to occur, it would not do any harm if I
increased it to an extra hour, as maybe more time can

FURTHER WORK

If I were to do any further work on this investigation that would support

my prediction, then I would test the factor of length and maybe width as
well. The change in length and width (when cut into cylindrical shape as
previously) of the potato cell can tell us if osmosis did occur, and including
its effects on the cell.

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The longer and less wide the potato cell is means that the cell is flaccid,
and water as diffused out. In a hypertonic solution, an exosmosis reaction
occurs, this is where the potato cell would become slightly thicker in width
and may increase in lengthwise slightly. This is because water has diffused
into the vacuole and it is pushing against the cell wall. This makes the cell
turgid, and stretches it very slightly, increasing its length and width in a
very small amount.

For the graph, you would plot the concentration on the x-axis against the
length of the potato cell that would be on the y-axis. You could draw
another line graph to show the width (as you may not be able to hare the
same scale with the length of the potato cell)

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