As a subject matter expert in the field of physical chemistry, I can explain the process of sugar dissolving in water, particularly why it happens faster in hot water.
When sugar is added to water, it dissolves because the water molecules and sugar molecules interact with each other. This interaction is driven by the
thermal energy of the water molecules, which increases with temperature. The higher the temperature, the more kinetic energy the water molecules have, which leads to more frequent and more forceful collisions with the sugar molecules.
In hot water, the increased kinetic energy causes the water molecules to move faster and collide more vigorously with the sugar crystals. This increased activity disrupts the
intermolecular forces holding the sugar crystals together, allowing the individual sugar molecules to separate and become surrounded by water molecules, a process known as
hydration. Once hydrated, the sugar molecules are effectively dissolved in the water.
Furthermore, the solubility of sugar, like most solids,
increases with temperature. This means that at higher temperatures, more sugar can be held in solution at a given concentration before it becomes saturated.
In summary, sugar dissolves faster in hot water because the increased temperature provides more kinetic energy to the water molecules, leading to more effective collisions with the sugar and a higher solubility of the sugar in the water.
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