Uploaded May 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This demonstration shows the dehydration of sugar using sulfuric acid.
Sugar has a chemical formula of C12H22O11 and sulfuric acid is H2SO4. When concentrated sulfuric acid is added to the sugar in the beaker, the process of dehydration begins.
The dehydration process is exothermic, the beaker gets very hot and you can see steam being given off during the video. The reaction produces water (H2O) which dilutes the sulfuric acid generating even more heat. The black material left in the beaker is carbon which climbs up out of the beaker due to the volume of steam being produced.
Safety Notes: This demonstration is very dangerous! Concentrated sulfuric acid (18M) is extremely corrosive and very harmful if it contacts the skin. This demonstration should only be performed when using proper safety procedures including wearing safety goggle, gloves and carrying out the reaction in a fume hood.
This demonstration shows the dehydration of sugar using sulfuric acid.
Sugar has a chemical formula of C12H22O11 and sulfuric acid is H2SO4. When concentrated sulfuric acid is added to the sugar in the beaker, the process of dehydration begins.
The dehydration process is exothermic, the beaker gets very hot and you can see steam being given off during the video. The reaction produces water (H2O) which dilutes the sulfuric acid generating even more heat. The black material left in the beaker is carbon which climbs up out of the beaker due to the volume of steam being produced.
Safety Notes: This demonstration is very dangerous! Concentrated sulfuric acid (18M) is extremely corrosive and very harmful if it contacts the skin. This demonstration should only be performed when using proper safety procedures including wearing safety goggle, gloves and carrying out the reaction in a fume hood.
