Coloring Sugar Crystals

As the weather warms up and the sun continues to shine, this experiment will have you creating colorful sugar crystals.

Materials: 
Food coloring
4 tsp. sugar
20 tsp. water
Bowl
Sun

Procedure:

• Pour the sugar into a bowl slowly add water and stir until the sugar dissolves.
• Add 2-4 drops of food coloring.
• Place the bowl in a sunny spot for 1-2 days.

What did you observe?
Why do you think it happened?


Sugar is a molecule made of 12 atoms of carbon, 22 atoms of hydrogen and 11 atoms of oxygen. When sugar is added to water the crystals dissolve and create a solution. The heat from the sun will warm the water in your sugar solution enough to allow the water to evaporate. You will be left with only sugar and color. 
 

You can now use your colored sugar to decorate cookies, cupcakes or make to make other sweet treats such as pixi sticks!