Final answer:
When water is added to a mixture of fennel and ethanol, it disrupts the hydrogen bonding between ethanol molecules and causes ethanol to dissolve in water. This changes the equilibrium between fennel and ethanol and results in a white-colored drink.
Step-by-step explanation:
When water is added to a mixture of fennel and ethanol, it changes the equilibrium between fennel and ethanol because water can disrupt the hydrogen bonding between ethanol molecules. Ethanol molecules form hydrogen bonds with each other, as well as with water molecules.
When water is added, it competes with ethanol for hydrogen bonding, causing ethanol molecules to separate from fennel and dissolve in water. As a result, the fennel is no longer bound to ethanol and the drink becomes white in color.