Why Does Sugar Water Evaporate Faster Than Water?

Usually, regular water evaporates faster than sugar water because the added sugar increases the evaporation temperature of the water. Certain conditions can cause sugar water to evaporate faster than regular water.

Evaporation

Evaporation is the process of water changing from a liquid to a gas, and it requires energy. The higher the evaporation temperature, the more energy that is required for evaporation to occur.

Sugar Water

Water is colorless and odorless, and sugar water is made by dissolving sugar into water. Sugar is hygroscopic, meaning it can absorb water from the atmosphere, and this can stall evaporation. Less energy is required to evaporate water than sugar water when the conditions are constant (e.g., the same surface area and surrounding temperature) and there is a significant amount of sugar in the sugar water.

Conditions that Influence Evaporation

Surface area and the amount of sugar added are just two conditions that could affect the results. If just a little sugar is added to the water and the surface area of the sugar water was larger than that of regular water, even by a little, the sugar water will evaporate faster than plain water.

References

• Science Buddies: Ask an Expert: Water Evaporation