What is the Freezing Point of Sugar Water? The more I thought about this question, the more questions popped up in my mind. What is the freezing point of sugar water? Does the ratio of sugar and water make a difference? I will answer those questions and more in this article so keep on reading!
What is the Freezing Point of Sugar Water?
The freezing point of sugar water with this ratio is 22 degrees Fahrenheit based on a 1 to 1 ratio (1 part water, 1 part sugar). If you mix 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water (and make sure the sugar crystals are fully dissolved), then you should have a sugary sweet, frozen drink in about three to four hours at 22 degrees Fahrenheit.
What are some other Sugar Water Freezing Point Ratios?
You should also know, that when I talk about the ratios of the water, it can be any measurement as long as it matches the format of “parts”. So, one part water and one part sugar could mean 1 tablespoon of water and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Or, two parts water and 1 part sugar could mean 32 ounces of water and 16 ounces of sugar. As long as it works out in the math with the assumption of equal parts. Don’t worry, this will all make more sense as you keep reading.
Buckle up because we’ve got some amazing results with this question! Let’s start with a 2 to 1 ratio (this is 2 parts sugar and 1 part water) the freezing point is typically 12.5 degrees Fahrenheit but will take longer as the newly formed “solution” is more solid than liquid.
At a 1 to 4 ratio (one part sugar and 4 points water), the freezing point of sugar water is 26 degrees Fahrenheit. When looking at the trend of the freezing points, we can see that the more solid mixed in with the liquid, the lower the temperature needed to freeze the solution.
So, now we have a little bit more of an understanding of what the freezing points of sugar water are based on their ratios, but what is the actual science of these facts? How do you know if your freezer can handle this kind of “experiment”?
Do Some Freezers Freeze Better than Others?
I’m not talking about brand names with this question. What I wondered was, is there a difference between upright refrigerator/freezer combos versus chest style/dedicated freezers.
It seems that most upright freezers don’t reach quite the freezing temperatures as the chest type/dedicated freezers do.
Most refrigerator/freezer combos maintain a freezer temperature of around 0-degree Fahrenheit. For most chest type or dedicated freezers, the temperatures typically stay around -10 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
What is the Science Behind Sugar Water Solutions and Their Freezing Point?
When you look at the parts of sugar water separately, everything is made up of molecules, and sugar and water have different properties. This isn’t new information, but to explain the science, I needed to get that part out of the way.
You may be surprised to learn that when sugar is dissolved in water, the two don’t perfectly merge. Meaning the sugar doesn’t completely “disappear” in the water. The sugar instead attaches itself to the water molecules.
When this solution freezes, the water particles have changed to ice and the sugar particles are “trapped” within the water molecules. They don’t technically freeze, just become part of the mass of frozen water molecules.
This bit of science definitely explains why the more sugar you add to this sugar water solution, the lower the temperature needed to freeze it.
Is There a Point Where Sugar Water Won’t Freeze?
Based on my research, I’ve not found any scientific evidence that states a ratio of 5 to 1 or above will freeze (meaning five parts sugar and one point water). This is obviously based on the science of the water molecules with the sugar molecules and the assumption that the increase of the sugar makes a smaller portion of water molecules that can freeze.
So, if you’re trying to put five cups of sugar into 1 cup of water, you might not only be dealing with an issue of dissolving this solution, you will also have a result of more of a slush consistency rather than a solid form. There really is just no point beyond 12.5 degrees Fahrenheit that will freeze a solution of a five to one ratio.
When you break it down, the answer to the question of what the freezing point of water is, is slightly more complex than I originally thought. It all just depends on how much sugar you put into how much water and what type of freezer you have.
The simple answer to what is the freezing point of sugar water is that it can depend on the ratio. The temperature is anywhere between 12.5 degrees and 26 degrees Fahrenheit depending entirely on the amount of sugar you’ve dissolved into the water.
So, the next time you hear someone ask, “I wonder what the freezing point of sugar water is”, you’ll be able to have an answer! I hope you’ve enjoyed this sweet bit of information!
Frequently Asked Questions about What is the Freezing Point of Sugar Water?
What is the Freezing point of a Sugar Solution?
A water-sugar solution (presumably a pre-mixed one) has an absolute freezing point of -9.4 degrees Fahrenheit. This is most commonly the type of sugar solution used in science and medicine, not so much the kind that would be recreated on an at home experiment.
What is the Boiling Point of Sugar Water?
We’ve learned about a freezing point of sugar water but what about a boiling point? Based on the research I’ve found, the boiling point for sugar water is approximately 217 degrees Fahrenheit.
Does Sugar Freeze?
Now this is a tricky answer. Sugar is already in a state of frozen being, meaning the molecules in the sugar particles are already at their solid form so further freezing/storing wouldn’t work. However, when looking at this question, I found out that the actual melting point of sugar is 365 degrees Fahrenheit. With that knowledge the new answer is yes, this melted sugar can then be frozen into a solid, sugary mass.