What is the science behind the rock candy experiment?
A supersaturated solution is unstable—it contains more solute (in this case, sugar) than can stay in solution—so as the temperature decreases, the sugar comes out of the solution, forming crystals. The lower the temperature, the more molecules join the sugar crystals, and that is how rock candy is created.
What is the hypothesis of rock candy?
Based on the results of my experiment, it’s clear that those tiny seed crystals are an important rock candy hack. My hypothesis was that using sticks with seed crystals will produce more rock candy than sticks without. This experiment supports that hypothesis.
What is the independent variable in making rock candy?
Independent Variable: The independent variable is the amount of heat exposed to each Group. Dependent Variable: The dependent variable is the growth of the rock candy.
How does making rock candy relate to chemistry?
When you make rock candy, sugar is added to hot water until a saturated solution is created. This is where sugar, called the solute, can no longer be dissolved into the water, called the solvent. A supersaturated solution formed once the saturated sugar and water solution cooled down.
What causes sugar to crystallize?
Sugar crystals form after heated sugar molecules cool down into a hard structure. Sugar will latch onto other particulates like burnt caramel or dirt, so once some sugar crystalizes, it’s likely the crystallization will spread.
Why rock candy is a tasty example of thermodynamics second law?
A tasty example that illustrates the second aw of thermodynamics is the making of rock candy_ The basic recipe for rock candy involves heating water to its boiling point and adding sugar until no more will dissolv in solution The sugar solution should be keep close to 240 F.
How did the amount of sugar and the temperature of the water impact the size of your rock candy?
The sugar-water solution containing twice the amount of sugar (4 cups) did result in the largest rock candy crystal formation while the sugar water-solutions containing equal (2 cups) and lesser amounts (1 cup) did not grow as large.
Is rock candy a physical or chemical change?
Chemical Reactions- Two chemical reactions take place, first the sugar dissolves in the boiling water and then crystals form. This results in a physical change because the combination of water and sugar is not forming a new substance.
What is crystallization process?
Crystallization can be defined as the process through which the atoms/molecules of a substance arrange themselves in a well-defined three-dimensional lattice and consequently, minimize the overall energy of the system.
What separation technique is used to make rock candy?
Rock candy is made by a separation process called crystallization.
Why does rock candy grow?
As the water evaporates, the solution becomes more saturated and sugar molecules will continue to come out of the solution and collect on the seed crystals on the string. The rock candy crystals grow molecule by molecule.
What is the independent variable in an experiment?
Question: What’s an independent variable? Answer: An independent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is a variable that stands alone and isn’t changed by the other variables you are trying to measure. For example, someone’s age might be an independent variable.
How does temperature affect sugar crystal growth?
How does temperature affect the growth of sugar crystals? Answer 1: The higher the temperature, the more easily sugar dissolves in water, and so existing sugar crystals will dissolve. At lower temperature, they will precipitate.