Potato Lab
By Debbie Froese, Rosemary Reimer, and Eva Neufeld
Problem
If the six solutions each contain different molarities of sucrose, how will we be able to determine the concentration by using water potential? What are the molarities of each?
Hypothesis
Manipulated Variable
Range to be Used
Describe how the control would be set up.
Three constant factors used in this lab are...
-room temperature solution
-same size potato in each solution
Materials
-Cutting Instruments
-Triple-Beam Balances
-Metric Rulers
-Cups
-Thermometers
-Color Coded Sucrose Solutions
-Plastic Wrap
Procedure
1.) Peel off the skin of a potato.
2.) Measure out six equal sized pieces of potato. Make sure they are fairly close in mass.
3.) Put equal amounts of each of the six solutions in six different containers.
4.) Place a piece of potato in each solution and cover each container with plastic wrap.
5.) Leave the covered containers sitting at room temperature over the weekend (72 hours).
6.) After 72 hours have passed, check how far the solutions have traveled.
7.) Make calculations to find water potential.
8.) Determine the molarities of each solution by using their water potentials as a guide.