Why does old hard candy turn cloudy and sticky?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does old hard candy turn cloudy and sticky?

The Big Idea

Fresh hard candy is clear and shiny. But old candy turns cloudy and sticky! What happened?

Sugar Glass

Step one: Sugar Glass. Fresh hard candy is sugar glass. The sugar was melted and cooled so fast that it never formed crystals.

Sticky Surface

Step two: Sticky Surface. Sugar likes water, so in humid air the candy's surface soaks up moisture. That makes it turn sticky.

Crystals Form

Step three: Crystals Form. Then the sugar molecules can move around and begin lining up into tiny crystals. They make the candy look cloudy and grainy.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Fresh is glassy. Moisture soaks in. It gets sticky. Then cloudy.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Candy makers wrap hard candy tightly to keep out moist air. Fresh candy is glass. Sugar loves water. Crystals make it cloudy.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Leave one unwrapped hard candy in a dish for a day. Keep another one wrapped. Compare how they look. Compare how they feel. Do not eat the unwrapped one.

Outro

Fresh hard candy is clear sugar glass with no crystals. In humid air, it soaks up moisture and gets sticky, then sugar molecules line up into tiny crystals that make it cloudy. Wrap candy tightly! Science is amazing! Keep asking questions! The more you look around, the more wonders you will find, so keep your eyes open! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!