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Why doesn't a gummy bear grow as much in sugar water as it does in normal water?

User Mike Karp
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2 Answers

14 votes

Answer:

In comparison to the gelatin molecules in the candy, salt or sugar ions in water are significantly smaller. Water molecules go to a location with more solute to balance things out due to osmosis. The problem is that the water is trapped inside the candy and cannot escape. Because the Gummy Bear can't get any smaller, it keeps the same size.

User Alnet
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4 votes
Salt molecules are much smaller than sugar molecules, so more of them will dissolve in water.

Hope this helps<3
User Leenephi
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