Finding out the water potential of a potato
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Aim
The aim of the experiment is to find the water potential of a potato by using varying amounts of sucrose solution.
Background information
The term water potential is defined, as "the tendency of water molecules to move from high concentrations of water molecules to lower concentrations i.e. water will move from a region of high water potential to one of lower water potential." (A-level Study Guide, Biology by Gareth Rowlands, Page 28). Higher concentration of water molecules i.e. pure water, is said to contain a high water potential because more water molecules are present in a certain volume, hence there being a higher chance of molecules colliding with one another, which leads to water molecules leaving the cell membrane. Pure water has the highest water potential value, which is zero. The symbol for water potential is denoted by the Greek letter ...