sugar and salt?

Question

why would sugar dissolve in water much faster then salt?

Answer 1

It's down to the different stabilities of sugar (sucrose) and salt (sodium chloride) in water. It takes energy to break down crystals into solution and the energy required depends on how strongly the constituents of the crystal are held together. A crystal of sugar is made up of lots of sucrose molecules held together by weak hydrogen bonds. By contrast a salt crystal is held together by strong ionic bonds between sodium and chloride ions. That's why it's easier to free the sugar molecules from their crystal lattice than it is to break down the Sodium Chloride into Sodium and Chloride ions.

Answer 2

Sugar is very hydrophilic (loves water) and dissolves quickly. Salts that dissolve in water must disassociate into ions to dissolve (NaCl (solid) --> Na+ (aqueous) + Cl- (aqueous) ). Although this happens quickly, this is an extra step that is taken by the salts before they can dissolve. Sugar quickly binds with the H+ (or H3O+) and the OH- ions very quickly.

Answer 3

think my experience tells me that sugar dissolves more slowly than salt, but I'm not quite sure. But actually the salt may dissolve faster because of the hydration enthalpies of the ions. But this actually shouldn't explain the kinetics... :confused

Answer 4

it's all about the strength of bonds and what happens when it is dissolved in water. sugar is solvated, but stays whole. salt is broken into ions so you have to break ionic bonds which are very strong

Answer 5

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Answer 6

I think so

Answer 7

its more soluble? dunno