Biology lab report

Lhamo richoe
Dp 1
 
 
 

Aim

To study the effect of different concentration of sucrose on the mass of potato cells.

Research question

How does increase in the concentration of sucrose affect the mass of the potato(+- 0.5 gm) used
in the experiment ?

Introduction

This experiment is a medium of understanding the relation between the different concentration of
sucrose and the effect on the mass of potato slices or on the potato cells.

Background information

We know that there is sugar in potato but this sugar is a glucose polymer, starch. Although there
is starch in potatoes, there is no sucrose. Sucrose is a bigger molecule than glucose which means
that glucose can pass easily through membranes compared to sucrose . the sucrose solution has a
less percent of water than the potato does. So because of osmosis the water in the potato will
leave to become equilibrium with the sucrose concentration . if the concentration of sucrose is
low in the solution , then the potato’s mass will change less because it has more water than
sucrose . when the sucrose concentration is higher, the mass will change more because there will
be a lot more water in the potato than in the concentration .Osmosis is a type of passive transport
.The movement occurs along a concentration gradient. However in osmosis ,only the passive
movement of water occurs across a partially permeable membrane. A partially permeable
membrane is one that only allows certain substances to pass through. A concentration gradient of
water that allows the movement to occur is the result of a difference between solute
concentrations on either side of a partially permeable membrane. A hypertonic (hyperosmotic)
solution has a higher concentration of total solutes than a hypotonic (hypo-osmotic) solution.
Water therefore moves from a hypotonic solution to a hypertonic solution across a partially
permeable membrane . If isotonic solutions occur on either side of a partially permeable
membrane, no net movement of water is evident.plant cells have a rigid cell wall due to which
when they take up water by osmosis they swell but the cell wall prevents them from bursting.
And plant cells become turgid . on the other hand when they are placed in a sucrose solution

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,they lose water by osmosi and become ‘flaccid’. The contents of the plant cells shrink and pulls
away from the cell wall.they are said to be ‘plasmolysed’.

Variable table

Independent variable Dependent variable Constant variable

Molarity mass of sucrose

(0.2 mol/ , 0.4 mol/ , Mass of the soaked potato (+- The volume of distilled water
0.6 mol/ , ,0.8 mol/ 0.05gm) (50cm​3​)
and 1.0 mol/ )

Size of the potato(3cm)

Time gap (24 hours)

Apparatus used

Room temperature

Apparatus and materials

Apparatus Quantity Materials Quantity

Cork borer 1 Distilled water 150 cm​3

Watch glass 18 Sucrose C​12​H​22​O​11

Beaker 2 Potato

Round bottom flask 1 Knife 1

Measuring cylinder (+-0.05 2(50ml &500ml) Filter paper 10

㎤)

Analytical electronic 1 Book 1

balance (+-0.05 gm)

Petri dish 1 pencil 1

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 Spatula 1 Peeler 1

Ceptor 1 Ruler(+-0.01mm) 1

Pipette 1 Aluminium foil 1

Procedure

1. Using a measuring cylinder measure 50cm​3​ of distilled water and pour it in a beaker by
looking at the lower meniscus of the distilled water.
2. Similarly, using a measuring and analytical electronic balance prepare sucrose of 0.2
mol/dm​3​, 0.4 mol/dm​3​, 0.6 mol/dm​3​, 0.8 mol/dm​3​ and 1.0 mol/dm​3​ and pour it in a beaker by
mixing the distilled water of 50cm​3​ with the sucrose having different molarity mass.
3. Prepare the sucrose of the given mol/ by first finding out the proper mass of the above
sucrose individually by calculating.
4. After finding out the mass for individual sucrose , with the help of analytical electronic
balance measure the mass of the sucrose for preparing the sucrose solution .
5. Place the analytical electronic balance on a uniform/ flat platform and switch it on and bring
it down to 0.00gm and ensure that the platform is clean with no remains on it.
6. Place a petri dish in the analytical electronic balance.
7. Using a spatula, transfer the sucrose from the sucrose container to the petri dish placed inside
the analytical electronic balance .
8. After the petri dish is filled with given / proper mass , remove the petri dish from the
analytical electronic balance
9. Transfer the proper weighed sucrose in the volumetric flask/ round bottom flask containing
distilled water of 50cm​3
10. Mix the sucrose well in the distilled water in order to get a proper and well mixed solution .
11. Choose a fresh potato for the experiment and peel it with the help of a peeler without hurting
yourself.
12. Using a cork borer of 10mm and into potato and then removing it ,carefully without hurting
yourself .
13. Use a kitchen knife to remove the bottoms of the potato.
14. Use a scale to measure 30mm of potato and cut it into the correct scale in order to decrease
the uncertainty .
15. Measure the mass (in grams) of potato before placing it into the solution in the analytical
electronic balance by first taking the potato slice with the help of laboratory tweezer and
then putting it on the clean platform of the analytical electronic balance and then observing
nad then noting down the mass of the slice.
16. Put the respective potato in the solution and cover it with an aluminum foil / watch glass .
17. Let it remain in the sucrose solution for a time period of 24 hours.
18. Remove the potato from the solution and again measure the mass with the help of analytical
electronic balance and note it down in your data table.
19. Repeat the whole process for two more trials in order to get accurate results .

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Safety measures and precautions

1. Wearing lab coat is mandatory .

2. Be careful while cutting and peeling the potatoes,while using knife for the experiment .
3. Handle the glass materials with care.
4. Tie your hair.
5. Make sure the analytical balance is stable i.e. brought to zero .
6. Be careful while transferring sucrose from its container to petri dish.
7. Close the sucrose container with the lid as it is hygroscopic .
8. Dispose the biodegradable waste (potatoes peels and leftovers) in the biodegradable
dustbin after the experiment is completed so that the waste can be reused as a organic
manure for the growth of plants .
9. Wash the apparatus before use so that no chemical remains are there of any previous
experiments.
10. You should be careful while weighing the sucrose as the air pressure and etc. can affect
the result . so the analytical electronic balance should be closed while weighing the
potatoes / sucrose.
11. Choose a good and fresh potatoes.
12. Check the time before dipping the potatoes into the sucrose solution .
13. Pour the sucrose solution on the plants .

Data table

Qualitative data

 
S.no. Before the experiment After the experiment

1. Mass of potato (+-0.05 gm) change(sometimes decrease or increase

) in the mass of the potato

2. Color of the fresh potato was yellow . Color changed to light brown.( due to
release of phenolic compound from the
potatoes when kept for out for a long
time )

3. The colour of the sucrose solution was Change in the colour of the solution was
cloudy white. also observed, some of which turned
brownish.

​Quantitative data (raw data )

Trial 1
Sucrose Solution Mass before dipping Mass after dipping The change in the
(mol/ ) into the solution into solution(+- 0.05 mass(+-0.05 gm)
(+-0.05 gm) gm)

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 0.0(distilled water) 0.780 1.03 0.25

0.2 0.780 0.95 0.17

0.4 0.820 0.88 0.06

0.6 0.790 0.66 -0.13

0.8 0.830 0.58 -0.25

1.0 0.850 0.59 -0.26

Trail 2
Sucrose Mass before dipping Mass after dipping The change in the
Solution(mol/ ) into the solution into solution (+-0.05 mass(+-0.05 gm)
(+-0.05 gm) gm)

0.0(distilled water) 0.83 0.89 0.06

0.2 0.73 0.86 0.13

0.4 0.82 0.80 -0.02

0.6 0.77 0.71 -0.06

0.8 0.78 0.62 -0.16

1.0 0.82 0.57 -0.25

Trial 3
Sucrose Solution( Mass before dipping Mass after dipping into The change in the
mol/ ) into the solution solution (+-0.05 gm) mass(+-0.05 gm)
(+-0.05 gm)

0.0(distilled water) 0.84 0.87 0.03

0.2 0.86 1.01 0.15

0.4 0.80 0.79 -0.01

0.6 0.84 0.89 0.05

0.8 0.84 0.68 -0.16

1.0 0.85 0.66 -0.19

​DATA PROCESSING

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 ​ alculation:
C
*mole= gram /molecular mass

Example: 0.2 =gram/342.30

​Gram = 68.46
0.2 = 68.46×400/1000
0.2 = 27.384 gram

S.no Mole/dm​3 Final value (+-0.05 gm)

1. 0.2 27.384

2. 0.4 54.768

3. 0.6 82.152

4. 0.8 109.536

5. 1.0 136.92

​Average
Calculation: (all the values /no. Of observation )
For example :for before dipping in the sucrose solution
》(0.83+0.73+0.82+0.77+0.78+0.82/6)gm =0.79 gm
Avg.value Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Before dipping in the 0.80 (+-0.05 0.79 (+-0.05 gm) 0.84 (+-0.05 gm)
sucrose solution gm)

Avg.value Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

After the potato slices area 0.78 (+-0.05 0.74 (+-0.05 0.82 (+-0.05 gm)
taken out from the solution gm) gm)

A.PROCESSING OF UNCERTAINTY
1.Percentage uncertainty
*Formula- (uncertainty ÷ value )×100
For example - MEASURING CYLINDER
- (+-0.05 ÷50)×100 =0.1%

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 S.no. Name Uncertainty Value Processed
uncertainty

1. Measuring cylinder +-0.05cm 3​ 50 ㎤ +- 0.1%

2. Ruler +-0.01mm 30 mm +- 0.03%

3. Analytical electronic +-0.05 gm 0.84 gm +- 5.95%

balance

Total % +-6.08 %
uncertainty =

2. Total uncertainty
*formula :uncertainty × number of times used throughout the experiment
For example- +-0.05 cm​3​ ×8 = +-0.40 cm​3

S.no. Name Uncertainty No. Of Processed uncertainty

time used

1. Measuring cylinder +-0.05 cm​3 8 +-0.40 cm​3

2. Ruler +-0.01 mm 18 +-0.18 mm

3. Analytical +-0.05 gm 36 +- 1.80 gm

electronic balance

4. Stopwatch +-0.01 sec 2 +-0.02 sec

5. Total = +-2.4

*The table shows the total uncertainty of ruler ,measuring cylinder,stopwatch and analytical
electronic balance . 

Data presentation

1.Average graph

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This graph1. compares the average values of mass of potato slices before dipping in the sucrose
solution and after dipping in the sucrose solution .

This graph 2. Shows the actual values of potato slices mass before dipping in the sucrose
solution.

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This graph3. for the mass of potato slices after taking out from the sucrose solution.

CONCLUSION

● Hence through this experiment, we can conclude by saying that the use of
different concentration of sucrose solution does however affect the mass of potato
slices, which proves the occurrence of osmosis .
● We see that mass of potato will be affected less if it has more sucrose than sucrose
solution and it will be affected more or a huge change in its mass will be seen
when it has lesser sucrose than the sucrose solution.
● We even observe that the color of the potato slices changed to light brown.( due
to release of phenolic compound from the potatoes when kept for out for a long
time)
● The results are not precise , which can be due to the uncertainties and difference
in the room temperature as the trials were not done in a single day .
● There is no experimental value given for comparison therefore there is no
accuracy and % error.

Evaluation
Error Effect of the error on Possible improvement

experiment

(reading of the volume of water not Values may be taken ● Take readings from eye

from eye level ) wrong level(lower meniscus)

● Place the apparatus on a uniform

platform

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(transfer of distilled water from volume of distilled ● Be more precise in experiment by

measuring cylinder to the small water may not be exact making the use of pipette

beakers ) 50cm^3

(not fully dried potato slices) Can affect the reading ● Dry the slices with filter paper and

of the mass. make sure its not wet

Some of the slices may

have been exposed to

air longer than other

and had more time to

soak in the filter paper

(error in reading the mass due to effect on calculating ● To minimise this systematic error,

external factor) percentage of mass the slices of potato can be

change weighed more than once in order

to get the proper reading

(readings in the analytical electronic Wrong readings ● Check the analytical electronic

balance) balance before use

● Before operating the analytical

electronic balance , clean he

platform where we put our petri

dish containing sucrose so that

there is nothing on it which might

lead to wrong reading or mass.

● After keeping the petri dish with

the sucrose ,bring the value of the

analytical electronic balance to

0.00 and then start weighing the

mass.

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(improper cutting of cylindrical Change in the surface ● Use a scale with clearer values

potato slices ) area of the potato slices shown

● Wear spectacles if you have poor

sight.

( inaccuracies of the dilution of the Will affect the mass of ● Stir the sucrose well while

different glucose concentrations)   the potato slices diluting it with the distilled water

using a glass rod.

Possibilities
​ of impurities in the Will lead to alteration ● Make sure that the laboratory is

solution and the equipment used in the experiment. clean before starting with the

would mean the mixture of different experiment.

substances ● Make sure to close the windows

so as to avoid external impurities

in the solutions and apparatuses.

Touching of potato slices with bare hand  

Increase the uncertainty ● Use a forceps for handling the

potato slices.

Extra solution on the potato  

Can affect the reading ● Roll the slices in the filter paper

of mass so that the potato slices are dried

enough to weigh .

Drying of potato slices  

Cause internal water ● Cut the potato right before using it

bleeding

BIBLIOGRAPHY
● IB BIOLOGY PEARSON AND OXFORD
● https://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=1434

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 ● https://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=143429
● https://www.bartleby.com/essay/The-effect-of-osmosis-in-potato-cells-PKJPQG9
ZV
● https://www.bartleby.com/essay/The-effect-of-osmosis-in-potato-cells-PKJPQG9
ZVC

Another method to perform experiment on osmosis can be by making use of cucumbers which
contains about 95% of water in them. First cut the cucumbers with same length and then weigh
them to check if they have the same weight.Prepare a salt solution and a distilled water in which
the slices of cucumbers is kept for about an hour and weigh the cucumber slices before dipping
them into the solutions. Then weigh the slices after the time gap to see the change in its mass and
through this experiment ,it can concluded that change in mass is occured due to the movement of
water from one region to the other.

 
 
 
 
 

 
 

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