Question

Potato strips were weighed and then soaked in different salt solutions (0%, 0.9%, and 5% NaCl). After 75 minutes the potato strips were dried and weighed, and the percent change in weight was calculated for each 

Based on the graph, which salt solution was hypertonic to the potato strips? 

Which variable is the independent variable in this experiment? 

The cells in the image are displaying plasmolysis. What type of solution must the cells have been placed into? 

• hypotonic solution 

• hypertonic solution 

• isotonic solution

Answer 1

1. If the potato strips were in hypertonic solution, then the water inside the potato strips might have escaped into the surrounding medium and the weight of the cells will drastically reduce. Hence the third bar in the graph demonstrates the potato strip placed in hypertonic solution which is the least weight. Hence the 5% salt solution was hypertonic solution.

2. The independent variable in the experiment is the NaCl concentration and the weight of the potato is based on the salt solution surrounding it. Hence the answer is NaCl concentration.

3. Plasmolysis of cells occur when the water escapes into the surrounding medium leaving the cell to shrink. This happens in a hypertonic solution. In a hypotonic solution the cell swells. Hence the correct answer is hypertonic.

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