Question

Sweetened beverages from coffee to tea to soda are a regular part of almost everyone’s daily routine. Briefly explain why sugars, like sucrose, readily dissolve in water. Hint—Consider the role of the hydroxyl group (—OH).

Answer 1

Monosaccharides like glucose and sucrose are readily soluble in water because of their polar nature and presence of hydroxyl group. Hydroxyl group is able to hydrogen bond with water. Hydrogen bond is the bond present between hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom like oxygen. The hydrogen of water can form hydrogen bond with oxygen of hydroxyl group of monosaccharides.

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