When freshly peeled potatoes are placed into a bowl of pure water what will happen to the potatoes?

When freshly peeled potatoes are placed into a bowl of pure water, they will absorb water through the process of osmosis. Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. In this case, the peeled potatoes have a lower solute concentration than the water, so water molecules will move into the potatoes, causing them to swell and become turgid.

The rate of water uptake will depend on a number of factors, including the temperature of the water, the surface area of the potatoes, and the concentration of solutes in the water. In general, water uptake will be faster at higher temperatures, with larger surface areas, and with lower solute concentrations.

The process of osmosis is important for plants and animals because it allows them to absorb water from their surroundings. In plants, osmosis helps to maintain turgor pressure, which is essential for cell expansion and growth. In animals, osmosis helps to maintain water balance and regulate body temperature.