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    Home » Early Years Science » Sugar Cube Absorbing Experiment

    Sugar Cube Absorbing Experiment

    July 12, 2020 By Emma Vanstone 22 Comments

    We’ve looked at how objects absorb water before using sponges, underpants and even the good old walking water experiment. Today we’re trying an absorbing experiment with a twist and trying to halt the process as a way of investigating which materials absorb water and which don’t!

    sugar cubes in red water as part of an absorbing experiment

    Absorbing Experiment Materials

    • Sugar cubes
    • Plate
    • Water
    • Food colouring
    • Aluminium foil
    • Cling film
    • paper
    • kitchen roll

    Instructions

    Add a few drops of food colouring to a little water and pour onto the plate.

    Add a stack of sugar cubes and watch what happens. The coloured water should move up the stack of cubes and eventually make them collapse. Check how many cubes the coloured water passes through before stopping. Ours only reached cube 3.

    Try adding a small sheet of foil on top of one sugar cube and stack some more on top. Does this stop the water reaching the top cubes?

    Absorbing experiment with sugar cubes

    Try the same with some cling film, and some paper or tissue. Which work the best?

    Can you try to predict which material will stop the water spreading through the cubes the best?

    Absorbing experiment with sugar cubes

    Which falls down first?

    sugar cubes dissolving in red water

    What’s happening to the sugar cubes?

    The sugar cubes absorb the water as you can see by the colour rising up through the cubes. Our foil and cling film did stop the flow of water for a while, but eventually it found a way through. I think we cut the foil/clingfilm a little small. These were the last stacks to fall though.

    The paper absorbed the water easily and let it reach the cubes above. This is because paper is porous and lets water pass through it. The foil and clingfilm prevent water passing through.

    If you leave the sugar cubes for long enough they will dissolve completely!

    Extension tasks

    Design an investigation thinking about how to make it a fair test. Think about the amount of water used, number of cubes and amount of material used to block the water.

    Perhaps you could time how long each cube tower takes to fall!

    Make it a Challenge!

    Can you stop the tower toppling?

    absorbing experiment STEM Challenge

    More absorbing experiments

    Can you waterproof a boot or a dinosaur?

    Slightly different, but Tinkerlab has a brilliant activity where celery draws coloured water up through its stem. You can also use the same technique for making coloured flowers!

    Use sugar cubes to find out which materials absorb water the best and worst!

    Suitable for Key Stage 1 Science

    Investigating Materials

    Foil stopping the top sugar cube absorbing water

    Last Updated on January 24, 2022 by Emma Vanstone

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    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Susan Mann

      June 11, 2012 at 3:11 pm

      Very interesting. x

      Reply
      • Niamh Bevan

        June 11, 2012 at 3:54 pm

        I’m sure the children loved watching the whole process but I’d be extremely interested to know how many 5 year olds were able to manage figuring out the cause for the sugar melting at different paces. It is within their grasp as I’m sure they’ve all handled kitchen paper, foil and cling film. Lots of children that age are smart enough to figure it out in those circumstances.

        Reply
        • ScienceSparks

          June 12, 2012 at 1:09 pm

          My main aim with these investigations is to spark an interest in why things happen. I’m not necessarily all that bothered that my children understand fully the reasons behind it. I just want them to be curious about the world.

          Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        June 12, 2012 at 1:08 pm

        we had soo much fun!

        Reply
    2. mom is the only girl

      June 11, 2012 at 4:50 pm

      I like this idea! I was going to do the paper towel absorption experiment later today, now maybe I’ll do both!

      Reply
    3. Rebekah @ The Golden Gleam

      June 12, 2012 at 4:16 am

      Such a neat experiment!

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        June 12, 2012 at 1:07 pm

        its cool isn’t it?

        Reply
    4. heather at wordplayhouse®

      June 12, 2012 at 1:10 pm

      The sugar cubes are ideal for your experiment! The water absorbing shows so clearly for children, and it adds a little bit of fun to the science experimenting that you are using both sugar and color—2 things children really seem to love!

      Reply
    5. maggy, red ted art

      June 14, 2012 at 5:20 pm

      Wow, great fun… my kids would want to eat it! Wonder if I could make them wait until the end of the experiment!

      Thank you for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!

      Maggy & Alissa

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        June 16, 2012 at 8:34 am

        Yes I always remember sneaking the sugar cubes from my grandma’s bowl!

        Reply
    6. MaryAnne @ mama smiles

      June 15, 2012 at 11:23 pm

      Fantastic experiment! Tempted to buy some sugar cubes now…

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        June 16, 2012 at 8:31 am

        Do, because we shall be doing some more experiments with sugar cubes!

        Reply
    7. Natalie

      June 20, 2012 at 1:20 am

      I love this, especially since the results are eatable and it’s very visual.

      Reply
    8. Beth

      June 21, 2012 at 10:58 am

      What a cool experiment!! My kids would love this! Thanks for sharing on TGIF! Have a great week,
      Beth =-)

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        June 24, 2012 at 2:28 pm

        Thanks Beth!

        Reply
    9. lis

      October 12, 2012 at 5:00 pm

      the problem I encountered is that with most of the materials I tried, the bottom sugar cube collapsed well before the top cube got any moisture in it at all. so I turned the experiment upside down–stack two sugar cubes, lay a piece of plastic/foil/paper/fabric/whatever on top, then use an eyedropper to put water on top. this worked much better.

      Reply
    10. Amy

      March 19, 2014 at 5:10 pm

      How long does this experiment take? I only have one hour with my kids and was wondering if the water will make it through the sugar by then.

      Reply

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