Title Determining the concentration of an external solution which is isotonic to the cell sap of plant

cells
Aim To determine the concentration of an external solution which is isotonic to the cell sap of plant
cells
Problem
Statement
What is the concentration of an external solution which is isotonic to the cell sap of plant cells?
Hypothesis The concentration of the solution which is isotonic to the cell sap of plant cells has no effect on
the mass and size of the plant cells.
Variables Manipulated variable: Concentration of sucrose solution
Responding variable: Mass of potato strips
Fixed variable : Temperature, size of potato strips, volume of sucrose solution, time
Materials and
apparatus
Potato, tissue papers, distilled water, 0.1 M, 0.2M, 0.3M, 0.4M, 0.5M and 0.6M sucrose solutions,
scalpel, cork borer, boiling tube, test tube rack, forceps, ruler, 50ml beaker and electronic balance
Technique Using different concentrations of sucrose solutions to determine the concentration of an external
solution which is isotonic to the cell sap of plant cells. This is done by plotting a graph of the
change in mass of plants cells against the different concentration of sucrose solution.
Safety
precaution
Each strip is patted dry before weighing

Procedure:
1. Seven boiling tubes were prepared and labelled A, B, C, D, E , F and G.
2. The first boiling tube was filled with 20cm of distilled water. The rest were filled with 20 cm of sucrose
solutions with the concentrations 0.1M, 0.2M, 0.3M, 0.4M, 0.5M and 0.6M.
3. Seven potato strips were prepared by using cork borer.
4. The strips were cut to the same length of 5 cm.
5. Each strip was wiped dry with a piece of tissue paper.
6. The mass of each potato strip was weighed and recorded.
7. Each strip of potato was placed in the boiling tubes.
8. The strips of potato must be covered completely in the solution.
9. After 30 minutes, the potato strips were removed, wiped dry and weighed.
10. The results were recorded in a table. A graph of the change in mass against the concentration of the sucrose
solution was drawn.

Result
Tube Concentration of sucrose
solution (M)
Mass of potato strip (g) Change in mass (g)
Initial Final
A Distilled water
B 0.1
C 0.2
D 0.3
E 0.4
F 0.5
G 0.6



Discussion:
The point where the graph cuts the x-axis indicates that there is no difference in the mass of the potato strip. This
means that the concentration of sucrose solution at this point is isotonic to the cell sap of the plant tissue. Based
on the graph, the ________M sucrose solution is isotonic to the cell sap of the potato strip. The water diffuses in
and out of the cell at equal rate. The cells maintain their original appearance.

Conclusion:
Yes, the hypothesis is accepted. Based on the graph, ______M sucrose solution is isotonic to the cell sap of potato
strip as this concentration has no effect on the mass and size of the potato strip.
























Graph of change in mass against the concentration of sucrose solution












x-axis = ____cm:____M
y-axis = _____cm: _____g


Change in mass (g)
Concentration of
sucrose solution (M)