Any biology labs easy to do ? At home

Yes, Osmosis Potato Experiment

Question: How do different salt solutions affect osmosis?

Materials: Per group

12 pieces of potato cut in similar shapes and sizes.

4 cups

Balance

Spatula or spoon

Aluminum Foil to cover cups

Tongs

Paper towels

Sharpie Marker for labeling cups

Part 1: Finding mass

Label 4 cups separately:

Distilled Water

1% Salt Solution

3% Salt Solution

5% Salt Solution

Place the “Distilled Water” cup on the balance and press the “TARE” button.

Add 3 pieces of potato to the “Distilled” cup

Record the MASS in grams (g) in the Distilled “Initial Mass” column of the data table.

Remove the cup from the balance.

Measure out 100 ml of Distilled Water and pour into the cup.

Cover the cup with foil and set aside.

TARE the balance again to ZERO the mass.

Repeat steps 2-8 with the 1%, 3% and 5% cup

Write a hypothesis in the labeled section of the Osmosis Lab Report Template Preview the documentprovided or as directed by the teacher.

Refer to the conclusion section. Draw illustrations of each cup and its contents. Details of the illustration will be added later.

Part 2: Obtaining Results

After approximately 24 hours, use tongs to remove the “Distilled” pieces of potato from the labeled beaker.

Pour out the liquid from the cup into the sink or other specified container.

Take a piece of paper towel and carefully dry the inside of the cup.

Gently blot/dry the potato piece with a paper towel to remove excess water. DO NOT PRESS the potatoes.

Document how the potatoes feel at this time.

Place the empty "Distilled" cup on the balance and TARE.

Quickly place the potatoes in the cup and find the mass.

Record the mass in the FINAL MASS (g) column of the data table.

Record, in the NOTES section of your notebook, all observations of the texture, color and flexibility of the potatoes.

Calculate the percent change in mass (see example below) and enter into the provided data table.

Final mass of potatoes - Beginning mass of potatoes X 100

Beginning Mass

11. REPEAT STEPS 8 – 15 for the 1%, 3% and 5% salt solutions.

12. Graph your data.

PART 3: Illustrations and Conclusion

In the labeled spaces provided in the Osmosis Lab Report Template draw and label pictures to illustrate what happened during the experiment.

Use arrows to show the movement of water.

Use the following labels to indicate the state of the solution/liquid: hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic.

Write a conclusion which states whether your hypothesis was or was not supported in addition to citing data as support.

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