Investigating osmosis - coursework for biology includes prediction evaluation and results

Subject  > Science Essays  > Biology

Prediction Osmosis is defined as ¡§the movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from a region of high water concentration to a region of low water concentration¡¨. In a high concentration of water the amount of solute (e.g. sugar) is low. This could be called a weak or dilute solution. In a low concentration of water the amount of solute (e.g. sucrose) is high. This could be called a strong or concentrated solution. When two such solutions are divided by a semi-permeable membrane the water will move from the area of high concentration to the area of low concentration, until both sides are equal (have reached equilibrium). Knowing that osmosis will occur across a semi-permeable membrane whenever there is a difference ...

... opinion the experiment went well. I gained a good set of results and altogether I am pleased with the investigation. The graph obtained from the results has a strong resemblance to the one in the prediction. This suggests that the experiment was fairly accurate. Although 3 repetitions of each concentration are sufficient, there was a possible anomalous result (circled on graph). This part of the investigation would need to be repeated. A possible factor affecting my results is that although the cylinders were taken from the same potato there is no guaranteeing that the density remains the same throughout the potato. Another factor is that the potato from which the cylinders are taken could be

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