Sugar Crystals Experiment

Use evaporation for this easy sugar crystals experiment.

Sugar Crystallization and Evaporation

Use evaporation to make colourful sugar crystals.

Evaporation can be described as the process in which a liquid is converted to a vapour.

You will need

2 spoons sugar
10 spoons water
food colouring
a small bowl or saucer

Method

Stir the sugar into the water until it is all dissolved. Show the children that it has 'disappeared'.
Add the food colouring.
Pour the water onto the saucer and leave it in a warm place for a few days.

Result

The water evaporates and the coloured sugar crystals remain on the saucer. You can break them up and add them to your sugar bowl.

Variation

Make various different colours of sugar crystals to create 'rainbow sugar'.

History of Sugar

For centuries before crystallised sugar was produced, it was not plentiful as it is today and honey was used for sweetening in most parts of the world. In some places, raw sugar cane was chewed to extract its sweetness.

Sugar cane was indigenous in tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia. After the Indians discovered a way to turn the juice of sugar cane into granulated crystals it became easy to store and to transport and its use became more widespread.

For more fun with sugar try the Sugar Tower Absorption Experiment.

Sugar Tower Absorption Experiment

Demonstrate the process of absorption with this easy science experiment for kids. The sugar absorbs the colored water, as shown by the colour that gradually climbs up the tower. Very quickly the sugar gets soggy and the tower topples!