Final answer:
Sprinkling sugar on fresh strawberries causes osmosis, resulting in the release of juice from the berries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The strawberries being covered with juice when sprinkled with sugar and allowed to sit is caused by a process called osmosis.
When the sugar is sprinkled on the strawberries, it creates a high concentration of dissolved solute around the berries. This high concentration of sugar creates a hypertonic environment, meaning the water inside the strawberries has a lower concentration of solute compared to the surrounding sugar solution.
As a result, water molecules inside the strawberries move out of the cells and into the sugar solution, causing the strawberries to release their own juices. This process helps preserve the strawberries by dehydrating any potential bacteria that may be present and inhibiting their growth.