Question

Potato slices become crisp in plain water but become flaccid in strong salt solution. Why?

Answer 1

• Osmosis is the process in which solvent molecules move from an area of lower solute concentration to area of higher solute concentration.
• This process can be easily demonstrated by using potato slices.
• Potato has both starch and water in them.
• When placed in concentrated salt solutions they shrink i.e water diffuse from region of lower concentrations to regions of higher concentrations.
• Whereas, those placed in plain water will swell up slightly.