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Layna Samuelsen

Mrs. Stevens

Physical Science

12 December 2018

Does type of sugar affect the rainbow in a glass experiment?

We all love sugar. But, have any of us ever thought about all the different types of sugar?

There are hundreds of different sugars in the world and each one is specific for something

different. I conducted an experiment using four different types of sugars and created a

sugar/water rainbow. Of course, though, each rainbow turned out differently because of the sugar

I used in them. I hypothesized that, ​if I create rainbow layers with white sugar, brown sugar,

powdered sugar, and coconut sugar, then, the powdered sugar with have the greatest effect.

What is the Difference between Brown Sugar, White Sugar, Coconut sugar, and Powdered

Sugar?

There are many differences between the different types of sugar. White sugar is the most

common and is simple processed cane sugar. Coconut sugar is more natural and is found directly

in coconuts. Powdered sugar is just crushed white sugar that is grinded to a powder. And, last but

not least, brown sugar is just white sugar with molasses added to it(Mooney). So really all of the

different types of sugar are just different forms of white sugar(Stossel).

How Does the Temperature of an Object Affect How much of a substance can be dissolved in It?

The temperature of an object has great effect on how much of a substance can be

dissolved into it. First of all, if the we are using sugar and water, hotter water will be able to hold

more sugar. The high temperature can push back the saturation point. The particles can be
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broken easier and a solution can form quicker. Usually, making the water more warm speeding

up the process of dissolving. However, salt is an exception(Affecting).

What Is Density and How Is It measured?

Mott Vallerie stated, “Density indicates how much of a substance occupies a specific

volume at a defined temperature and pressure.” Normally, by finding the density of a substance,

you can more easily identify the substance. For example, water has a density of 1000 kg/m3.

Also, An object's density determines whether it floats or sinks(Mott). The object will sink if the

density is larger than that of water. The formula for density is mass divided by volume(Hand).

What Does It Mean For Something to Dissolve?

There are three important words when it comes to dissolving. The thing that is dissolving

is called a solute. The liquid that the object is dissolving into is called the solvent. The liquid and

the solute combined is called a solution. When stirring sugar into water, the sugar is the solute

and the water is the solvent. When a solid substance dissolves, it turns into a liquid and spreads

out its particles. As Helmenstine says, “The substance that dissolves must be capable of forming

non-covalent interactions with the solvent”(Dissolve).

Why Does Sugar Dissolve in Water?

For a liquid to dissolve into a solid, the molecules of each must integrate with each other

and become a compound. For example, Sucrose is C12H22O11. However, energy is needed for a

substance to dissolve. Energy is given off when intermolecular bonds form between the sugar

molecules and the water molecules. Sugar is a molecular solid, and the molecules are held

together by weak bonds(Bodner). The molecules bond and become smaller (Guant).
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What Does It Mean For a Substance to Be Saturated and How Much Sugar Can Be Added to

Water Before It Becomes Saturated?

Saturation is the point of maximum concentration or when no more substance can be

dissolved into a solute. Higher temperatures allow the solvent to hold more solute, but when the

solute is saturated, nothing more can be added(Saturated). For example, if you try to put more

sugar in water that is completely saturated, it will sink to the bottom and not mix in(VanCleave).

The substance will become thick and heavy. However, when heat is added, the saturation point is

pushed back. Therefore, you can add more sugar. So, the solution can take more substance

(Guant).

I thought that, ​if I create rainbow layers with white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar,

and coconut sugar, then, the powdered sugar with have the greatest effect, ​and I found out that I

was correct. The powdered sugar had the most distinct layers. The colors were the brightest in

the powdered sugar, but I also found out that the coconut sugar and brown sugar didn’t even

layer out. It simply just mixed into a dark gray color. Each sugar had a very different effect in

this experiment, but the powdered sugar had the greatest effect by far.
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Works Cited

Bodner. “Solubility .” Transition Metals,

chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch18/soluble.php.

CK-12 Foundation. “Factors Affecting Solubility .” CK-12 Foundation, CK-12 Foundation, 2018,

www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Chemistry-Second-Edition/r18/section/17.4/​.

Guant, Terry, and Layna Samuelsen. “Does Type of Sugar Affect the Rainbow in a Glass Experiment?”

2Hand, Mr. “Density.” How Gliders Fly, www.mansfieldct.org/Schools/MMS/staff/hand/Density.htm.7

Nov. 2018.

Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Dissolve Definition in Chemistry." ThoughtCo, Oct. 23, 2018,

thoughtco.com/definition-of-dissolve-604432.

Mooney, Delia. “The Guide to Different Types of Sugars.” Tasting Table, Tasting Table, 20 Sept. 2016,

www.tastingtable.com/cook/national/different-types-of-sugars-white-vs-brown​.

Mott, Vallerie. “Introduction to Chemistry.” Lumen Learning, Lumen Learning,

courses.lumenlearning.com/introchem/chapter/volume-and-density/.

Stossel, John. “The Raw Facts on Sugar.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 24 Feb. 2006,

abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=1658232&page=1.

VanCleave, Janice. “Solubility Graph.” VanCleave's Science Fun, 8 Feb. 2010,

scienceprojectideasforkids.com/2010/solubility-graph/