Year 11 - Science
Effect of osmosis and sugar concentration on the mass of plant tissue: analysis
Coordination and control: maintaining a constant internal environment
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit covers the importance of maintaining a constant internal environment, focusing on body temperature control, osmotic balance, and kidney function. It explains the roles of the skin, kidneys, and ADH, and emphasises data extraction, experiment techniques, and accurate data interpretation.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to interpret a graph showing the effect of sugar concentration on the mass of potato tissue, and explain the results.
Key Notes
- Plotting and interpretation of a graph showing the effect of sugar concentration on the mass of potato tissue.
- Increase in potato mass means water moved in by osmosis (because the sugar solution was more dilute outside).
- Decrease in potato mass means water moved out by osmosis (because the sugar solution was more concentrated outside).
- The concentration of sugar in the potato tissue can be determined from the point at which there was no change in mass.
- At this point the sugar concentration was equal inside and out, so there was no net movement of water.
Vocabulary To Learn
- osmosis: the net movement of water molecules through a selectively-permeable membrane from a dilute solution to a concentrated one
- net movement: the overall movement of particles
- random error: causes results to differ by different amounts due to a factor other than the independent variable (the factor we changed)
- concentration gradient: a difference in the concentration of particles from one area to another
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Mistakes around calculating change in percentage mass are common, as are misunderstandings around why changes in mass occur.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Plotting and interpretation of a graph showing the effect of sugar concentration on the mass of potato tissue. Increase in potato mass means water moved in by osmosis (because the sugar solution was more dilute outside).
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'osmosis'
the net movement of water molecules through a selectively-permeable membrane from a dilute solution to a concentrated one. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Mistakes around calculating change in percentage mass are common, as are misunderstandings around why changes in mass occur. Correction: The calculations for percentage mass are introduced and walked through with an 'I-do, we-do, you-do' model. There are plenty of calculations to practice on. Why mass changes occur is also covered in detail and with supporting diagrams.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Controlling water balance: the kidneys, and nephron structure Study Guide
- Controlling water balance: the kidneys, and treating kidney failure Study Guide
- Controlling water balance: the kidneys, nephron structure and kidney failure Study Guide
- Effect of osmosis and sugar concentration on the mass of plant tissue: practical Study Guide
- The importance of maintaining constant conditions in the body Study Guide
- The importance of maintaining constant conditions in the body, including osmosis Study Guide
- The role of the nervous system in thermoregulation Study Guide
- The role of the skin in thermoregulation Study Guide
- The roles of the nervous and endocrine systems in controlling water balance Study Guide
- Using a microscope to observe effects of osmosis in plant cells: practical Study Guide
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