Dehydration of sugar using sulfuric acid

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Milo
Posts: 75
Joined: 31 Mar 2014, 10:16
State/Location: ACT

Re: Dehydration of sugar using sulfuric acid

Post by Milo »

I had a teacher who wanted to do this recently. He figured he'd do it outside, if the students stand back a bit then everything will be fine right? He saw sense when he realised the reaction produces sulfur dioxide gas, and delayed it until he was in a lab with a fume hood.

EDIT: haha Mardi, was writing my response at the same time as yours. I'm sure you use smaller amounts than us!
linotas
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Joined: 21 Mar 2011, 22:39
State/Location: TAS

Re: Dehydration of sugar using sulfuric acid

Post by linotas »

Yes as a demo in the fume hood.
Shell1
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Job Title: lab assistant
School: SJBC
Suburb: Engadine
State/Location: NSW

Re: Dehydration of sugar using sulfuric acid

Post by Shell1 »

I do ours in a tall beaker inside the fume hood. I think we only use about 20g sugar and about 50ml of sulphuric acid. the trick is to stir vigorously, you will feel the beaker start to heat up. we keep stirring until it is rather warm and then leave it. you will see it start to steam a bit and then it takes off really well
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Wayne
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Joined: 17 May 2006, 10:00
School: Mount Carmel College
Suburb: Sandy Bay
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Re: Dehydration of sugar using sulfuric acid

Post by Wayne »

Thanks for the replies people. We took the approach that Mel mentioned, we decided that for this teacher it was a no go.
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