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Estimation of Water Potential of Potato Tuber Cells

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Estimation of Water Potential of Potato Tuber Cells Introduction This experiment is to find out the water potential of potato cells. Water potential is the ability of water to move and is represented by the Greek letter ? (pronounced "sy"). It tells us which way water will move and how fast. Water potential is always measured as a negative number; this is because the water potential of pure water at atmospheric pressure is zero therefore the stronger a solution is the more negative the number. This is because a solution has solutes present and solute molecules slow the movement of the water molecules, therefore always making the water potential of a solution less than zero. ...read more.


There are two factors that influence water potential; * The concentration of solutes inside the cell * The pressure exerted on the cell contents by the stretched call surface membrane or cell wall. Results Table Concentration (m) Mass before (g) Mass after (g) Change in Mass(g) 0 (distilled water) 1.32 1.47 0.15 0.2 1.35 1.36 0.01 0.4 1.24 1.16 -0.08 0.6 1.38 1.05 -0.33 0.8 1.57 1.20 -0.37 1 1.32 0.83 -0.49 Method First we collected all of our equipment and labelled each test tube with the different concentrations of sucrose to go into it and placed them in a test tube, we filled each test tube half way with the following solutions; 0(distilled water), 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1m of sucrose solutions. ...read more.


We repeated that for each set of discs, 6 in all. Then we placed each set of discs in each test tube of solution and put the stoppers on top. They were left for 30 minutes n then the weights of the discs were taken again. Apparatus Diagram Test Tubes (x6) Test Tube Rack (x1) Stoppers (x6) Potato (x1) Cork Borer (Number 5) (x1) Scalpel (x1) Sucrose Solution Percentage Change To work out the percentage change you use this equation; % change = change in mass original mass Concentration (m) Start Mass Change in Mass Percentage Change in Mass(%) 0 1.32 0.15 11.4 0.2 1.35 0.01 0.74 0.4 1.24 -0.08 -64.5 0.6 1.38 -0.33 -23.9 0.8 1.57 -0.37 -23.6 1 1.32 -0.49 -37.1 ...read more.

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