A group of students are conducting an experiment. Since potatoes contain both sugar and water, the students use them in the experiment. The students cut six equal cubes of potato and weigh them. They place the six cubes into six different beakers containing different concentrations of sugar solutions, then weigh each potato cube after 24 hours and calculate the percent change in mass. The graph below shows the result of their experiment. Which of the statements below is a valid conclusion about this experiment? a The lower the concentration of sugar, the less likely the potato will gain mass. b The lower the concentration of sugar, the more likely the potato will gain mass. c The higher the concentration of sugar, the more likely the potato will gain mass. d The higher the concentration of sugar, the more likely the water concentration will be at equilibrium.

Answer 1

Based on the details of the experiment, the most valid conclusion is:

b. The lower the concentration of sugar, the more likely the potato will gain mass.

This conclusion is based on the principles of osmosis. In a lower concentration of sugar solution (hypotonic solution), water moves into the potato cubes, causing them to gain mass. Conversely, in a higher concentration of sugar solution (hypertonic solution), water moves out of the potato cubes, leading them to lose mass. Therefore, the statement regarding the lower concentration of sugar leading to a gain in mass is accurate.