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View Full Version : Why does sucrose dissolve in water?


Sanjay Persad
Sep 18, 2007, 01:50 PM
Why does sucrose dissolve in water?

chris89
Sep 23, 2007, 06:03 PM
Take a look at the structure of sucrose.
http://www.3dchem.com/imagesofmolecules/Sucrose.gif
It contains many O-H bonds. The distribution of the charge in this O-H parts of the sucrose are such that the Oxygen becomes slightly negative and the Hydrogen slightly positive.
Water molecules are H2O and looks like H-O-H, therefore the distribution of charge in the water molecule is much the same(the O will be slightly negative, and the H slightly positive). Water molecules will therefore be attracted to the OH parts of the sucrose molecule in such a way that the negative O in H2O will be attracted to the positive H in the OH of the sucrose(opposites attract). These H2O molecules will surroud the sucrose molecules and will break the sucrose molecules away from each other in order to do so, thus the sucrose dissolves.

Sanjay Persad
Sep 23, 2007, 06:12 PM
Oh yeah that's true. Thanks