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Question
A researcher carried out an experiment in which she took two carrots of similar size. She placed one carrot in plain water and the other carrot in concentrated salt solution (Fig. 2.21). After 24 hours she recorded her observations. (i) What hypothesis does she want to test through this experiment? (ii) What would you suggest for the improvement of this experiment? (iii) Why does the carrot in plain water stay stiff and crunchy, but the carrot in concentrated salt solution become rubbery and limp?
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Answer
Osmosis explains the carrots' difference.
Explanation
- (i) Hypothesis: water moves in or out of cells by osmosis.
- (ii) Improvement: measure and record the weight before and after.
- (iii) In plain water, water enters the carrot, so it stays stiff.
- (iii) In salt solution, water leaves the carrot, so it turns limp.
Water moves by osmosis, keeping one carrot firm and the other limp.
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