Question

A group of students investigating osmosis conducted an experiment to determine the effect of various sugar-water solutions on the mass of potato cores.

If a potato core contains 10% sugar, which concentration of sugar in a sugar-water solution would cause the potato to gain mass?

A.
5%

B.
10%

C.
15%

D.
None, the potato cannot gain mass.

Answer 1

In osmosis, water moves from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration through a semi-permeable membrane.

In this case, the potato core contains 10% sugar, meaning that the solution inside the potato is 10% sugar and 90% water. To determine the concentration of the sugar-water solution that would cause the potato to gain mass, we need to find a solution with a lower concentration of sugar than the potato core itself.

Thus, within the options provided:

- A. 5% sugar solution (lower concentration than 10% sugar) - Water will move into the potato, causing it to gain mass.
- B. 10% sugar solution (equal concentration) - No net movement of water will occur, and the potato will not gain or lose mass.
- C. 15% sugar solution (higher concentration than 10% sugar) - Water will move out of the potato, causing it to lose mass.
- D. None, the potato cannot gain mass - This is not true because the potato can gain mass in the presence of a lower concentration solution.

The correct answer is **A. 5%**. This solution would cause the potato to gain mass as water moves from the sugar-water solution into the potato core.