Biology 5090 · O Level · Diffusion and osmosis

Diffusion and osmosis — practice question

A student uses a potato and slices out three pieces from it. Each piece measures $5\,\text{cm} \times 0.5\,\text{cm} \times 0.5\,\text{cm}$. He then puts the three potato pieces into three separate sugar solutions. After two hours, he takes the potato pieces out of the sugar solutions and measures their lengths. The results are given in the table. Solution X: $5.2\,\text{cm}$ Solution Y: $4.7\,\text{cm}$ Solution Z: $5.3\,\text{cm}$ What conclusion can be drawn from these results?

  • ASolution Y has a lower water potential than the potato.
  • BSolution Z has the lowest water potential.
  • CThe potato piece in solution X increases in length because it takes up sugar.
  • DThe potato piece in solution Y decreases in length because it loses sugar.

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