High School

How many tablespoons of sugar can be entirely dissolved in one-half cup of water?

Answer :

Final answer:

The exact amount of sugar that can dissolve entirely in one-half cup of water varies, but generally, you can dissolve several tablespoons of sugar until saturation is reached. Factors such as water temperature and stirring affect the rate of dissolution.

Explanation:

The amount of sugar that can be entirely dissolved in one-half cup of water depends on several factors, including the temperature of the water and the type of sugar. However, typically more tablespoons of sugar can be dissolved until the water becomes saturated, meaning no more sugar can dissolve in the liquid. At room temperature, you might be able to dissolve a significant amount of sugar in a half cup of water, although the exact quantity can only be determined experimentally.

To illustrate this, imagine two full glasses of water. One has a single teaspoon of sugar in it, whereas the second one contains one-quarter cup of sugar. If the total volume of the solutions in both cups is the same, which cup contains more water? Because the large amount of sugar in the second cup takes up much more space than the teaspoon of sugar in the first cup, the first cup has more water in it.

In a solubility context, when sugar dissolves in water, the sugar crystals (solute) become distributed throughout the water (solvent), creating a solution. The rate of dissolution, and thus the amount of sugar that can be dissolved, is influenced by factors such as temperature and the amount of stirring.