Salt and Celery Experiment, Research Paper Example

Abstract

The objective of this experiment will be to review the manner by which Apium graveolens var. dulce (Edible celery) is a leafy plant that manifests a short stalk with compounded leaves. Every leaf possesses an elongated and fleshy petiole which attaches it to the stalk. The central part of the celery stalk that is eaten consists of the petiole. The works of Houseman (2013) and Thompson (2008) were accessed in this research.

Introduction

The celery will be placed in a solution of saltwater. The saltwater migrating up the veins of the celery stalk with cause the celery stalk to experience flexion. The hypothesis is that the greater the concentration of slat that is placed into the water solution, the more pronounced with be the flexion of the celery stalk. The flexion of the celery stalk is attributed to osmosis. Conventionally, the particles in solution are evenly dispersed. This is the reason why dye is dispersed in water. As the celery is immersed in water, the cells of the celery stalk that are accustomed to ingesting fresh water are ingesting salt water. The salt did not have the capacity of traveling through the walls of the plant cells, notwithstanding, the water had the capacity of being able to travel through the cell walls of the plant.

Hypothesis

The celery stalk will experience different degrees of flexion when placed into an aqueous salt solution.

Objective

The water will migrate from the container with the salt solution into the veins of the celery stalk and cause the celery stalk to experience flexion. As the water dehydrates from the plant, the increased concentration of salt will causes the celery stalk to experience deflation. In the process of deflation, the celery stalk will experience flexion. Distinct degrees of flexion will be manifested with regards to the concentration of salt placed into the salt solution.

Experimental Procedure

Three containers were obtained with sufficient height to saturate three of the celery stalks. Cups were applied. There were two distinct solutions of salt water that were made. One of the solutions of salt water was established by applying a one molar solution of salt to one hundred milliliters of water. The amount of salt that was added to the first solution of water was established at 58.44 grams. This was for a 1.0 molar solution of NaCl. The second solution was established by adding 29.22 g of NaCl. This was added to 100 milliliters of water and was established at a 0.5 molar solution.  A third cup of water was prepared and no salt was added. This cup was applied as the control sample. The cups were labeled as 1.0, 0.5 and no salt. Three stalks were taken and the leaves were removed from the stalks. The length of each of the stalks was measured. The stalks were cut in lengths that were fifteen centimeters in length. The stalks were each placed into one cup and allowed to refrigerate overnight. The weight of each of the stalks was measured at 30 grams.

Results

Discussion

The stalks that had been immersed in the solutions that had 0.5 molar Na cl and 1.0 Molar Na Cl did demonstrate signs of flexion. The flexion caused the celery stalk which had been placed in the 1.0 molar NaCl solution to form a semi-circle. The 0.5 Molar Na Cl caused the celery stalk that had been placed in the 0.5 Molar Na Cl to form, an arc. The hypothesis had been proved correct. The celery stalks incurred flexion as a result of the Na Cl that had been placed in the water. The celery stalks became smaller and softer as result of the 0.5 Molar Na Cl and the 1.0 molar NaCl being hypertonic solutions.

The hypertonic solutions have a higher concentration of salt than the living plant cells that are found in the celery stalk. As the saturation level of salt is more elevated outside of the celery stalk, a net migration of the water occurs from the cells that are found in the celery stalk. As a result, the size and the mass of the celery stalks that were placed in the salt water was diminished. . In addition, the migration of water from the cells that were located within the celery stalk caused the celery stalk to acquire a softer consistency. The celery stalk which was left in the solution that had no salt became hardened (Thompson 156).

In the circumstance of salt water plants, (i.e., ocean plants) the plants are ready for the salt input. The plant’s cellular membrane enables the ingress of salt that is collected by means of the vacuole of the plant’s cell. The saturation of the salt in these plants can ascend higher than the water in the environment, while the cells do not experience plasmolysis. One gene is the causal attribute of the difference between the salt water plants and the fresh water plants (Thompson 156).

In the plants that are inherent to the freshwater, which include the edible celery stalk, the membrane serves as a barrier to the salt while the water is able to enter into the plant cells. This is detrimental to the plants cellular wall and causes the plant to wither. Once the process of plasmolysis initiates, it is irreversible (Thompson 156).

Conclusion

The hypothesis that had been proposed was proven. The celery stalks absorbed the Na Cl in the solutions and eliminated water as a result. The mass and the dimensions of the celery stalks were diminished which caused a flexion in the shape of the celery stalks. The flexion of the celery stalks was attributed to the celery stalks eliminating water from its cells in order to try to equalize its internal salt content with the salt content of the environment.

Works Cited

Houseman, Matt. “Celery time lapse.” You Tube, 16 February 2013. Web 5 March 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CC7i2fGnNs

Thompson, Robert. Illustrated guide to home chemistry experiments: all lab, no lecture. Sebastopol, CA: Make Books, 2008. Print.