Understanding Osmosis Through Practical Experimentation
Year 9 Biology students carried out a practical investigation into osmosis – the movement of water molecules into and out of living cells.
Working with uniform cylinders of potato, students measured their mass before and after 30 minutes in sodium chloride solutions of varying, known concentrations. This hands-on experiment allowed them to observe how water moves across cell membranes depending on solute concentration, a process essential for maintaining cell function.
Far from being an isolated topic, osmosis underpins many later concepts in the IGCSE course, including breathing and digestion. By seeing the effects first-hand, students gained a deeper understanding of why molecules move in and out of cells and how this impacts life processes.
