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This is because the potato, which is mostly water, is in a hypertonic solution (a solution with less water and more solute --here, sucrose-- than the potato). Since the solutions want to reach equilibrium (equal amounts of sucrose and water in both the solution and the potato), water diffuses out of the potato and sucrose diffuses into it. The potato loses its water weight, and sucrose doesn't replace the weight lost, the potato weighs less.

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When a potato is placed in a high concentration of sucrose solution, water moves from the potato cells (which have a lower concentration of solutes) to the surrounding solution (which has a higher concentration of solutes) through osmosis. This results in the potato cells losing water and shrinking, leading to a decrease in weight.

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Q: Why is it that when you put a potato in a high concentration of sucrose solution does its weight decrease?
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Analysis in potato in a salt solution?

When a potato is placed in a salt solution, osmosis occurs. Water molecules move from an area of higher concentration (inside the potato) to an area of lower concentration (the salt solution), causing the potato to lose water and shrink. This demonstrates the process of osmosis, where water moves across a semi-permeable membrane to balance the concentration of solutes on both sides.


Which salt solution is more likely to be isotonic to the intracellular fluids of a potato?

A 0.9% sodium chloride solution (normal saline) is more likely to be isotonic to the intracellular fluids of a potato. This concentration is similar to the overall solute concentration inside the cells of a potato, making it the best choice to prevent osmotic imbalance when the potato is immersed in the solution.


Will changing sucrose concentrations change the mass of the potato?

Yes, changing sucrose concentrations in the solution surrounding the potato will affect the overall mass of the potato. The potato will either gain mass (hypotonic solution) or lose mass (hypertonic solution) depending on the direction of water movement across the semipermeable membrane due to osmosis.


What is the sucrose molarity of a potato?

The sucrose molarity of a potato can vary depending on factors such as the type of potato, growing conditions, and storage. Typically, the sucrose molarity in a potato ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 mol/L.


What change will occur if a piece of peeled potato is dropped in a concentrated sugar solution?

The potato may show some shrinking, but the more observable change is loss in mass of the peeled potato. Water will move out of the potato by osmosis. In osmosis, the water moves from the area of higher concentration to the area of lower concentration. There is lower water concentration outside of the potato because of the high amount of sugar dissolved in it. Depending on the concentration differences between the potato and the solution, water loss will continue until an equilibrium is reached. The potato piece will become flaccid (floppy)/plasmolysed, because of the water loss it has suffered. Shrinkage results from loss of turgor pressure in the potato, as a result of it becoming plasmolysed.

Related questions

What will happen to the potato when place is a concentrated sugar solution?

When a potato is placed in a concentrated sugar solution, water will move out of the potato cells via osmosis, resulting in the potato shrinking and becoming soft and limp. This is because the sugar solution has a higher solute concentration than the potato cells, causing water to move from an area of higher water concentration (inside the potato) to an area of lower water concentration (the sugar solution).


Analysis in potato in a salt solution?

When a potato is placed in a salt solution, osmosis occurs. Water molecules move from an area of higher concentration (inside the potato) to an area of lower concentration (the salt solution), causing the potato to lose water and shrink. This demonstrates the process of osmosis, where water moves across a semi-permeable membrane to balance the concentration of solutes on both sides.


Where is the disaccharide sucrose found in a potato plant?

The Disaccharide Sucrose found in a potato plant is in the flesh of the potato. The potato is nearly 100% starch and carbohydrates that produce sugars in the body.


What is the sucrose molarity of a potato?

The sucrose molarity of a potato can vary depending on factors such as the type of potato, growing conditions, and storage. Typically, the sucrose molarity in a potato ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 mol/L.


What would happen when exp osmosis with boiled potato and how can this be improved?

When a boiled potato is placed in a solution with a higher concentration of solute, water molecules will move out of the potato cells, causing it to shrink and become wrinkled. To improve this, you can immerse the boiled potato in a hypotonic solution, where the concentration of solute is lower than inside the potato cells, to allow water to move back into the cells, making the potato firm and hydrated again.


What is the direction of water movement in a cylinder of potato tissue in distilled water?

In a cylinder of potato tissue placed in distilled water, the direction of water movement will be from the external solution (distilled water) into the potato tissue due to osmosis. This is because the potato cells have a higher solute concentration compared to the external solution, resulting in water moving into the cells to equalize the concentration gradient.


What is the effect of osmosis on the mass of potato?

In osmosis, water moves from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration through a semi-permeable membrane like the cell wall of a potato. If the external solution has a higher solute concentration than the potato cells, water will move out of the cells, causing them to lose mass. If the external solution has a lower solute concentration, water will move into the cells, causing them to gain mass.


What change will occur if a piece of peeled potato is dropped in a concentrated sugar solution?

The potato may show some shrinking, but the more observable change is loss in mass of the peeled potato. Water will move out of the potato by osmosis. In osmosis, the water moves from the area of higher concentration to the area of lower concentration. There is lower water concentration outside of the potato because of the high amount of sugar dissolved in it. Depending on the concentration differences between the potato and the solution, water loss will continue until an equilibrium is reached. The potato piece will become flaccid (floppy)/plasmolysed, because of the water loss it has suffered. Shrinkage results from loss of turgor pressure in the potato, as a result of it becoming plasmolysed.


What happens to potato strip in dilute water?

This depends on the concentration of the salt solution. If the water potential of the salt solution is greater (less concentrated) than the cell sap of the potato cells, water would move into the potato cells, increasing the size of the potato strip. If the water potential of the salt solution is lower (more concentrated) than the cell sap of the potato cells, water would move out of the potato cells in the salt solution, decreasing the size of the potato strip.


Will changing sucrose concentrations change the mass of the potato?

Yes, changing sucrose concentrations in the solution surrounding the potato will affect the overall mass of the potato. The potato will either gain mass (hypotonic solution) or lose mass (hypertonic solution) depending on the direction of water movement across the semipermeable membrane due to osmosis.


What change affect the turgor pressure of a potato cell?

Decreased water intake into the potato cell would cause a decrease in turgor pressure, while increased water intake would cause an increase in turgor pressure. Factors such as osmotic potential, temperature, and salt concentration can also affect turgor pressure in potato cells.


What will happen to a potato put in salt water?

In the salt solution the concentration of water inside the cells of the potato is higher than that outside. Therefore water molecules move from inside the potato where there is higher concentration of water molecules to outside the potato where there is a lower concentration of water molecules through semipermeable membrane of the potato cells. This process is called osmosis.