Answer :
In tap or bottled water, a potato will absorb water by osmosis, causing the cells to become turgid and increase in size and weight.
When a potato is placed in tap or bottled water, we can predict that water will move into the potato cells by osmosis. This occurs because the water outside the potato is hypotonic compared to the inside of the cells. As a result, the potato cells will absorb water, causing them to become turgid and increasing their weight and size. In contrast, a potato receiving no treatment will not undergo these changes and will remain in its original state.
- Observation: The level of the solution inside the potato increases as water moves into the cells.
- Conclusion: This increase supports the occurrence of osmosis, where water moves from an area of lower solute concentration (the water) to an area of higher solute concentration (inside the potato).
- Comparison to Diffusion: Unlike diffusion, which involves the movement of solutes, osmosis specifically refers to the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane.