Potato Osmosis Lab Report

Sophie Murdock
Osmosis Lab

Osmosis in Plant Cells:

Solution
Initial Volume (mL)
Final Volume (mL)
Percent Change
Distilled Water
0.8
1.0
125%
0.4% NaCl
0.5
0.8
160%
0.9% NaCl
0.6
0.8
133%
5% NaCl
0.6
0.5
83%
10% NaCl
0.6
0.5
83%

8. The cells in the solutions of distilled water, 0.4% NaCl, and 0.9% NaCl would all appear to be inflated and could burst. This is due to the fact that the solution is hypotonic to the potato, thus water is entering the cell. Meanwhile, the cells in the solutions 5% NaCl and 10% NaCl would have shriveled cells. This is because the solution is hypertonic and water is leaving the potato out into the solution.

Record the Lysis Time:

Solution
Lysis Time (min)
DI
1:36
Soapy Water
0:48
0.2% NaCl
4:30
0.4% NaCl
NL
0.6% NaCl
NL
0.9% NaCl
NL
In the 5% NaCl solution, the cells were observed to undergo crenation. In this process, the cells are in a hypertonic solution so the water transfers from the cell out into the solution. This transfer causes the cells to shrink and appear to shrivel. Meanwhile, in the distilled water the cells were observed to lysis and rupture. In this process, the cells are in a hypotonic solution, causing the water to rush from the solution into the cells. This movement of water causes the cells to swell until they eventually burst or lyse.

3. Both the solutions of 0.2% NaCl and soap-filled water experienced lysis but at different rates. The mechanism of the 0.2% NaCl solution is osmotic movement of water into the cells, due to the cell being a hypotonic solution. Meanwhile, the soap solution undergoes another mechanism of lysis. The detergent from this solution causes a disruption of the lipid matrix of the cell membrane, resulting in the lysis.

4. Due to the solutions being hypertonic compared to the cell, the solutions of 2% NaCl and 5% NaCl would result in crenated