Final answer:
In commercial sucrose production, product crystals are washed to remove impurities, and sugar cubes would dissolve if placed in a bowl within a dish of water due to the solubility of sucrose.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the commercial production of sugar, specifically sucrose, the product crystals are indeed washed. The reason for the washing is to remove impurities that may be present after the crystallization process. Once the sugar is obtained from sugar cane or sugar beets, through processes involving crushing, boiling, and evaporation, the resulting sugar crystals often contain molasses and other impurities. By washing the crystals, these are removed, leaving behind purer sucrose.
Based on this information, if sugar cubes were placed in a bowl within a dish of water, they would dissolve over time. This is because sucrose is soluble in water, and the process of dissolution would be accelerated if the water is stirred, allowing the solvent molecules to make consistent contact with the solute. Therefore, storing sugar cubes in a bowl in this manner on a table is not advisable unless the intention is to dissolve them.