Osmosis is the movement of water from an area of its lower concentration to its higher concentration across a semi-permeable cell membrane. The addition of salt can change the concentration of water and the osmotic gradient. Salt can help us cook. In this osmosis experiment you will see how salt affects potato sticks.
WHAT YOU NEED
-Salt
-Water
-Knife
-2 Plates or bowls
-A Scale or Graph paper
-Measuring Cylinder
-Weighing Scale
-Paper Towels
WHAT YOU WILL DO
1. Mix 40 grams salt into 100ml of water until the salt is fully dissolved
2. Cut two sticks of potatoes into cubes of 3cm x 3 cm (1.2 in x 1.2 in)
3. Add salt water to one bowl/plate, and regular water to another bowl/plate
4. Place one stick of potato into the salt water and one stick of potato in the regular water
5. Leave for 6-8 hours
6. Remove the potato sticks and pat dry
7. Measure the new length and width of the potato cubes
SAFETY
Ask an adult to help you cut the potato into even, rectangular sticks.
Do not consume any of the materials used in the experiment!
RECORD YOUR OBSERVATIONS AFTER 6-8 HOURS
CONCLUSIONS
What happened to the potato in the salt water? Why? Which way was the water moving?
What happened to the potato in the regular water? Why? Which way was the water moving?
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