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Expt - 5

This experiment aims to demonstrate osmosis using a potato osmometer. Osmosis is the movement of solvent molecules through a semi-permeable membrane from a region of higher concentration to lower concentration. In this experiment, a potato is used as the semi-permeable membrane, with a 20% sugar solution in the cavity and distilled water outside. Over time, water from the distilled water moves into the sugar solution through the potato membrane, increasing the level of the sugar solution. This shows osmosis occurring as the solvent moves towards the region of lower solvent concentration.

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Pankaj Kumar Yadav
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72 views

Expt - 5

This experiment aims to demonstrate osmosis using a potato osmometer. Osmosis is the movement of solvent molecules through a semi-permeable membrane from a region of higher concentration to lower concentration. In this experiment, a potato is used as the semi-permeable membrane, with a 20% sugar solution in the cavity and distilled water outside. Over time, water from the distilled water moves into the sugar solution through the potato membrane, increasing the level of the sugar solution. This shows osmosis occurring as the solvent moves towards the region of lower solvent concentration.

Uploaded by

Pankaj Kumar Yadav
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EXPERIMENT NO.

-5
Aim of the experiment: Study of osmosis by Potato osmometer.

Theory

What is Osmosis?

Osmosis is the process in which solvent molecules moves through a semi-


permeable membrane from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower
concentration until the amount of fluid is equalised on both sides of the
semipermeable membrane.
The fluid that passes through the semipermeable membrane is known as the
solvent, while the dissolved substance in the fluid is known as the solute. The
mixture of solvent and solute makes up a solution.

Cause for Osmosis

Osmosis occurs due to the free energy of the solvent molecule in two regions. Pure
water or solvent has more free energy compared to that present in a solution.
Therefore during osmosis, solvent or water moves through the semipermeable
membrane from a region of its high free energy to a region of its low free energy.

Importance of Osmosis

Osmosis plays a critical role in plant and animal cells. It helps in the distribution of
nutrients and in the release of waste products. The living cells of both plant and
animals are surrounded by a semipermeable membrane known as the cell
membrane. The membrane forms a selective barrier between the cell and its
environment and does not allow toxic substances from the surroundings to enter
into the cell. The selective permeability allows the cell to regulate the flow of
necessary substances into and out of the cell. In plants osmosis is also responsible
for absorbing water and minerals from the soil by using the semipermeable
membrane of the root.

Types of Solutions

Hypotonic Solution

These are solutions with low solute levels.

Hypertonic Solution

Solutions with high solute levels are known as hypertonic.

Isotonic Solution

If both solutions have the same amount of solute concentration they are then
known as isotonic solution.

Occurence of Osmosis in Different Solution Types

Hypotonic Solution

If we place living cells in a hypotonic solution the water moves into the cell because
of the higher concentration of water than in the cell. The cell then swells to become
turgid.

Hypertonic Solution

If we place living cells in a hypertonic solution the water moves out of the cell
because of the lower concentration of water than the cell. The cell then shrinks and
becomes plamolyzed.

Isotonic Solution

If we place living cells in an isotonic solution, it won’t show any change because of
the equal concentration of water on either side. The cell remains as it is.
The phonomenon of osmosis can be demonstrated using an osmometer, a device
that shows the occurrence of osmosis.

Materials Required

(Note: No need to draw the figures under materials required)

Procedure

1. The peeled potato is placed on the tile and then using the knife, both ends
of the potato are cut to make it flat.
2. Using the knife a cavity is made at the centre of the potato from one of the
flat sides almost up to the bottom.
3. Distilled water is poured into the Petri dish until it is half filled.
4. Now, the potato is placed in the Petri dish.
5. The cavity made in the potato is half filled with 20% sugar solution.
6. The level of sugar solution in the cavity is marked using a pin.
7. The potato now functions as an osmometer.
8. The osmometer is left undisturbed for about two hours.
9. The rise in the level of the sugar solution in the cavity is marked with another
pin.

Observation

The level of sugar solution in the potato cavity rises after some time due to the
entry of water into the sugar solution through the selectively permeable
membrane of the cells of the potato.

Conclusion

The movement of water from the Petri dish to the potato cavity occurs because of
the difference in the concentration of solvent molecules in the two regions: sugar
solution in the potato cavity and pure water in the Petri dish.

Precautions

 The cavity should be deep enough to keep only a thin layer of tissues at the
base of the potato.
 The sugar solution should be of sufficiently high osmotic concentration as
compared to the cell sap of potato cells.

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