Two potato cubes each 1 cm3 in size, were placed separately in two containers (A & B), the container (A) having water and the other (B) containing concentrated sugar solution. After 24 hours when the cubes were examined, those placed in water were found to be firm and had increased slightly in size and those placed in concentrated sugar solution were found to be soft and had somewhat decreased in size. Use the above information to answer the questions that follow:
(a) Account for the firmness and increase in the size of the potato cubes placed in water.
(b) Accounts for the softness and decrease in the size of the potato cubes which were placed in sugar solution.
(c) Name and define the physical process being investigated in this experiment.
Two potato cubes each 1 cm3 in size, were placed separately in two containers (A & B), the container (A) having water and the other (B) containing concentrated sugar solution. After 24 hours when the cubes were examined, those placed in water were found to be firm and had increased slightly in size and those placed in concentrated sugar solution were found to be soft and had somewhat decreased in size. Use the above information to answer the questions that follow:
(a) Account for the firmness and increase in the size of the potato cubes placed in water.
(b) Accounts for the softness and decrease in the size of the potato cubes which were placed in sugar solution.
(c) Name and define the physical process being investigated in this experiment.
(a) Water is hypotonic to the potato cells, due to which endosmosis occurs and water enters the potato cells. The protoplasm swells up pressing tight against the cell wall. The cells are fully distended i.e. turgid. This causes the firmness and increases in the size of the potato cubes when placed in water.
(b) The sugar solution is hypertonic to the potato cells, due to which exosmosis occurs and water flows out of the potato cells. The potato cell loses its distended appearance, the cytoplasm shrinks and the plasma membrane withdraws from the cell wall. The cells become limp or flaccid. This causes the softness and decrease in the size of the potato cubes when placed in a sugar solution.
(c) The process being investigated is osmosis. Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane from a more dilute solution (with a lower solute concentration) to a less dilute solution (with a higher solute concentration).
(a) Water is hypotonic to the potato cells, due to which endosmosis occurs and water enters the potato cells. The protoplasm swells up pressing tight against the cell wall. The cells are fully distended i.e. turgid. This causes the firmness and increases in the size of the potato cubes when placed in water.
(b) The sugar solution is hypertonic to the potato cells, due to which exosmosis occurs and water flows out of the potato cells. The potato cell loses its distended appearance, the cytoplasm shrinks and the plasma membrane withdraws from the cell wall. The cells become limp or flaccid. This causes the softness and decrease in the size of the potato cubes when placed in a sugar solution.
(c) The process being investigated is osmosis. Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane from a more dilute solution (with a lower solute concentration) to a less dilute solution (with a higher solute concentration).
