Book 1, Question 141
Why Does Sugar Dissolve? Water Molecules Pull It Apart!
Stir sugar into water and it seems to vanish. Water molecules surround the sugar and pull its crystals apart, and stirring and heat help the pull go faster. The page says there is a limit, and after that extra sugar just sits at the bottom. Stir sugar into cold water and warm water and compare what you notice.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 1
More fun facts
- Water is called the universal solvent because it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid.
- Water can't dissolve everything, but it dissolves so much that the name fits pretty well.
- Wherever water goes, through the ground or through our bodies, it carries dissolved minerals and nutrients along.
- Try this: put a few M&Ms in water with the M facing up, and watch the M come off.
- In sugar, the molecules are held together by fairly weak forces.
- When sugar dissolves, its molecules form bonds with water molecules, which gives off a little energy and helps the sugar mix in.
Sources: U.S. Geological Survey, Purdue
Questions kids ask
Why is water called the universal solvent?
It dissolves more substances than any other liquid.
Can water dissolve everything?
No, but it dissolves more things than any other liquid.