Question

Does the water potential of a potato cylinder decrease if placed in a solution of sugar. And if so would the overall mass of the potato cylinder decrease?

Answer 1

Water Potential of the Potato cylinder will decrease, because it is firstly of being placed in a concentrated solution, so the w.p in the surrounding of the potato is lower than inside the potato, so like usually by the means of Osmosis the water molecule will move down the concentration gradient from the potato and into the surrounding

So as any common sense would say since the water molecules are moving out of the potato, it is only natural to find the mass of the potato to decrease

If you have any further question feel free to ask again :)

Answer 2

thanks very much ..
in a similar experiment would not peeling the potato skin have any effect on the rate of osmosis?

Answer 3

No I do not think so
although I'm not sure what material is the peel made out of, because there are certain substance that is not permeable by water molecule

Answer 4

wouldn't the potato skin act as a barrier between the potato cells therefore not allowing osmosis to occur?

Answer 5

like I said the the material is unknown to me
But if it's structure is like any normal plant cell then osmosis can occur with ease

Answer 6

presuming that a normal plant skin is on the potato

Answer 7

there are substance like suberin which blocks Apoplast pathway and eventually forming a casparian strip blocking symplast pathway, however I think this is very unlikely for the peel to have therefore the only difference could be the rate, which will be slowed down.

Answer 8

If it's a normal cell?
then osmosis will occur

Answer 9

so will the rate of osmosis be slower compared a a potato cylinder cell?

Answer 10

yes, because the surface area of a potato cylinder is more

Answer 11

compared to just dropping in a complete whole potato in a sugar solution

Answer 12

ok i understand know .thanks for your help

Answer 13

Anytime :)