Potato Power

We did an experiment called “Potato Power.” We wanted to show that all living cells eventually dry up. Firstly, we cut a potato into two halves. We then scooped out a hollow in the centre of each half. We poured salt into the centre of one half and left the other half empty. We left the potatoes on a plate over night to see what would happen.

We predicted that the half with the salt would completely dry up and would turn black.

The next day, we were shocked to find that the half with salt was filled with water. We thought someone had poured water into the potato! We even checked to see if someone has come into our classroom during the night!!!

What really happened was that the salt drew the moisture out of the potato. The one without salt was actually the one that went black! Our prediction was completely wrong!

Have a look at our before and after pictures.

Roxane and Lyndsey.