A cube cut from a potato is placed in a beaker of distilled water. The potato cells have a relatively high concentration of starch, and a relatively low concentration of water. The diagram represents the water and starch molecules in and around one of the potato cells in contact with the water in the beaker.

Question

Which row in the chart shown below correctly describes what would be expected to occur in the potato cells, with regard to both the starch and water molecules?

Answer 1

To analyze what would happen to the potato cells when a cube cut from a potato is placed in distilled water, we need to consider the processes of osmosis and diffusion.

1. Water Concentration: The potato cells have a lower concentration of water (higher concentration of solute - in this case, starch) compared to the distilled water in the beaker. This means that osmotic pressure will drive water from the area of higher concentration (distilled water) into the area of lower concentration (potato cells).

2. Starch Concentration: Starch molecules are large and do not diffuse through the semi-permeable membrane of the potato cells. Therefore, while water will move into the potato cells, the starch will remain inside the cells since it cannot pass through the membrane.

Given this information, the expected outcomes are:

• Water molecules will move into the potato cells, leading to the cells becoming turgid (swollen).
• Starch molecules will remain inside the potato cells, as they cannot move out.

The correct row in the chart that would describe what is expected to occur with respect to starch and water molecules in the potato cells should indicate that water moves into the cells, while starch remains inside the cells. If you can provide the specific rows available in the chart, I can help you identify which one matches this expectation accurately.