Yam Core Diffusion Lab Report

The effect of the solution concentration of sodium chloride on diffusion in yam cores compared to the solution concentration of water

Abstract

The purpose of the experiment was to see if different solution concentrations had an effect on diffusion. Our group established a hypothesis that stated; sodium chloride will make the yam cores weigh less than in water. In order to start experimenting, we obtained 10 yam cores, weighed them and placed them in five cups that contained 50 mL of water. At 10-minute intervals, we would take them out and weigh them again for 30 minutes. We repeated this experiment using another five set of cups that contained 50 mL of 1M sodium chloride. After gathering the data, we calculated the change in weight of the yam cores, performed a t test and constructed graphs. After performing a t test, I found the p value

Since the p value was greater than the alpha level, it indicated that the results were not statistically significant (Bridge etal 2015). We did not reject the null hypothesis and reject our hypothesis. Based on the tables and graphs that were constructed, we were able to see that the sodium chloride acted as a hypertonic solution for the yam cores compared to the water (McGraw-Hill Education 2003). Although we were able to visually see a difference between the two solutions, it was not significant enough to reject the null hypothesis. Since a yam is a plant of the genus Dioscorea, it contains cells that are partially permeable membranes. The membrane only allows certain molecules to pass through, water molecules are easily able to go through (Freeman 2011). Since sodium chloride is a normal saline it contains salt. The salt ions are not easily able to pass through the cell membrane like water. Compared to water, the sodium chloride should make the potatoes weigh less than in water, which should support our