A piece of potato is left in a strong sugar solution for an hour. Afterwards it feels soft and weighs less than before. Why has its mass decreased?

Assessment: Biology 0610 | Paper 2 Mock 01 | Multiple Choice (Extended) Subject: Biology - 0610

Question 1 Report

A piece of potato is left in a strong sugar solution for an hour. Afterwards it feels soft and weighs less than before.

Why has its mass decreased?

Answer Details

The strong sugar solution has a lower water potential than the potato cell sap, so water moves out of the cells by osmosis into the solution. Losing water makes the cells lose turgor, so the potato feels soft and weighs less. The mass decrease is due to water leaving, not sugar entering the cells (osmosis moves water, not sugar), and water moving in or extra starch being made would increase, not decrease, the mass.

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