What is the significance of turgidity in osmosis with potato chips?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the significance of turgidity in osmosis, particularly in potato chips. Turgidity occurs when plant cells absorb water in a hypotonic solution, leading to pressure potential that prevents further water uptake. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding key concepts such as pressure potential, solute potential, and water potential, which are essential for analyzing osmotic behavior in plant cells. The equilibrium reached in such systems is influenced by cell walls, which protect plant cells from bursting unlike animal cells.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of osmosis and its principles
  • Knowledge of pressure potential, solute potential, and water potential
  • Familiarity with plant cell structure and function
  • Ability to apply the water potential equation: water potential = solute potential + pressure potential
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the role of cell walls in plant cell osmosis
  • Explore the concept of entropy in biological systems
  • Study the effects of different solutions on animal and plant cells
  • Learn about the practical applications of osmotic pressure in food preservation
USEFUL FOR

Students and educators in biology, particularly those studying plant physiology, as well as researchers interested in osmotic processes and their applications in food science.

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Hi.. I am currently doing an experiment on Osmosis - Potato Chip, Looking at the effect of osmosis etc, However I was curious whether there was an inner depth to this, So far were ever I look the only defination of Osmosis is higher concentration to lower, but within my prediction I would like to put an answer of reason of choice with more depth, Could someone possibly explain thanks
 
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You'd have to understand that systems go into equilibrium. In a simple system that would mean that concentrations of ions in a system are the same everywhere. But there can be other forces that prevent this, for instance a cell wall that prevents a cell from sucking up any more water due to osmosis.. also this system will reach an equilibrium, but the concentrations of ions won't be the same.
 
Also interesting is to look into entropy: the measure of chaos in a system. It is unlikely that a lot of the same molecules are in the same place at the same time: this requires lowering the entropy and thus requires energy to be put in.
 
for instance a cell wall that prevents a cell from sucking up any more water due to osmosis..
Use the term "Turgidity" to be more scientific.
For instance, if you place an animal cell in a hypotonic solution, low in concentration, water will move from high water potential to low water potential. Eventually, the cell will burst because of excess water movement. This doesn't happen to plant cells because of the presence of cell wall. Water will go into the cell up to a certain limit, the cell becomes turgid. Due to the stretching of the cell wall a pressure potential is developed which offsets the solute potential of the cell solution and further net uptake of water stops. Hence, the plant cell is protected.

In osmosis, you need to be familiar with terms like pressure potential, solute potential and water potential. You need to nkow how animal/plant cells behave in different solutions and workout water potential of cells using the equation:

water potential = solute potential + pressure potential

Hope that was helpful!
 

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