Is it possible to observe any difference in weight in two originally identical potato slices after placing them, one in distilled water and the other in very salty water during two or more days? Why?
2007-04-25 00:45:10 · 9 answers · asked by v_a808 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
actually, you'll find that the one from salty water would end up weighing less (if you dried them off after you took them out of the water).
Due to osmosis, the potato in salt water would lose some of its natural water content, thus losing some of its initial mass. It would, in effect, become slightly dehydrated.
This would only happen if the water were saltier than the potato, of course.
It's kind of like putting a goldfish in the ocean - it will die because it dries out. Whereas, putting a tuna in a lake would kill it because it absorbs water.
2007-04-25 00:52:27 · answer #1 · answered by frouste 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, there will be a difference in a lot shorter time than two days.
Distilled water is hypotonic for potatoes. More water goes into the potato cells than the amount of water that diffuses out. The potato weighs more.
Salt water is hypertonic for potatoes. More water diffuses out of the potato cells than the amount of water that diffuses into the potato cells. The potato weighs less.
2007-04-25 00:48:51 · answer #2 · answered by ecolink 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
yes, this is done by osmosis(i.e movement of water molecules from region of high concentration to low down a concentration gradient through a semi permeable membrane until an equlibrium is reached)
(i)the water molecules in the water will move from the water to the potato cell and will make it larger and thicker-for the one in water
(ii)the water in the cell cytoplasm and cell sap will move out of the cell to the water causin the cell to shring and resulting in the decrease in size of the cell-for the one in the salt solution
2007-04-25 00:57:45 · answer #3 · answered by manish_wolfyfox 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the one in salty water will lose water out of its cells via osmosis, as the concentration of water tries to correct itself inside and outside the cell. So it will eventually weigh less.
2007-04-25 00:49:28 · answer #4 · answered by Labsci 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The one that had been in fresh water would weigh more.
The cells of the potato contain elecrolytes like sodium, potassium, etc. in higher concentration than the surrounding liquid, and so would osmotically draw in water across the cell membranes and become slightly waterlogged, and so, heavier.
2007-04-25 01:24:19 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
South Indian food
2016-05-18 02:28:21 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the one in salt water may be more because the salt concentration is higher...and when you weigh it, the salt particles could be there, but the difference might only be of .001 grams
2007-04-25 00:47:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, it becomes more buoyant because the water now has more mass....
2007-04-25 00:48:21 · answer #8 · answered by onemanbandwidth 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
osmosis
2007-04-25 00:54:04 · answer #9 · answered by SuNiL 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋