Final answer:
Saltwater will have a higher boiling point than sugar water due to ionic dissociation increasing solute particles, affecting colligative properties such as boiling point elevation. Salt seems more soluble in water as it dissociates into ions, while sugar molecules only dissolve covalently without dissociation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Boiling Points of Saltwater vs. Sugar Water
When comparing the boiling point of saltwater to that of sugar water, saltwater will have a higher boiling point. The reason is that salt (NaCl) dissociates into sodium and chloride ions, which increases the number of particles in the solution. Since boiling point elevation is a colligative property that depends on the number of solute particles, a saltwater solution with a given concentration will exhibit a greater elevation in boiling point compared to a sugar water solution of the same concentration. For example, a 1.00 m NaCl solution has an approximate boiling point of 101.02°C, due to the production of ions, whereas a 1.00 m glucose or sucrose solution would only reach 100.51°C.
Solubility of Salt vs. Sugar in Water
Regarding the solubility of salt (NaCl) versus sugar (glucose or sucrose) in water, both dissolve quite readily, but they do so differently. Salt is ionic and when it dissolves in water, it forms ions which are solvated by water molecules. Sugar, being covalent, does not break into ions, but the individual sugar molecules are solvated by water molecules. The bonds within the salt are ionic and are considered stronger in comparison to the covalent bonds in sugar molecules; however, in an aqueous solution, salt dissociates into ions, making it seem like it dissolves more easily. The solute particles volume in the final solution affects colligative properties such as boiling point elevation and freezing point depression, with ionic compounds like salt generating a greater amount of these particles when dissolved.