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Sugar water and water forms distinct layers (infosec.pub)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by quandang@slrpnk.net to c/askphysics@lemmy.world

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Whenever I leave sugar in hot water, it always form a distinct transparent layer from the water above. After I stir it, the remaining sugar will form a less distinct layer. Why don't the layers diffuse onto eachother? Can anyone explain this?

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[–] Impronoucabl@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

For the same reason that saltwater can remain separate from fresh water, or even hot water and cold water - diffusion is typically a slow process, particularly if you do not stir, or otherwise mix the substances.

Consider this: drop a single drop of food dye into a glass of water. There's no way the entire glass immediately turns into the relevant colour, it takes time for the molecules to move about.