Measuring Sugar in Soda

Objective:

This experiment will examine and precisely measure the amount of sugar in various sodas.

Research Questions:

-What is the percentage of sugar in different kinds of soda?

-Do all sodas have the same sugar content?

Introduction:

We all know that sugar is filled with soda, but it’s hard to see just how much is in our drink by simply reading the label. Using a scientific instrument called a hydrometer, you can find out by precisely measuring the sugar content. Technically, a hydrometer measures any solids in a liquid, but since nearly all the dissolved solids in soda is sugar, it will work for this experiment.

Materials:

• Floating hydrometer
• Several empty 2-liter bottles
• Several sodas of various brands and flavors
• Bag of pure sugar
• Funnel
• Kitchen scale
• Notepad and pen

Experimental Procedure:

1. Remove the carbon dioxide from each soda by dumping it back and forth between two clean containers until it stops bubbling.
2. Weigh out 100 grams of sugar with the kitchen scale, and use the funnel to pour the sugar into one of the bottles. Fill the bottle with 2 liters of water. Shake until all the sugar is dissolved. This is your 5% sugar solution.
3. Repeat steps 2 and 3 in two other bottles, with 200 grams and 500 grams of sugar. These are your 10% and 25% sugar solutions, respectively.
4. Fill one bottle with just water.
5. Place the hydrometer in the only water solution, and record the measurement. Wash and dry the hydrometer.
6. Repeat step 6 for bottles with the sugar solutions, and then the sodas.
7. Now it’s time to analyze your data. Using the sugar solutions as guides, calculate how many grams of sugar are in each soda and what the percentage of sugar is for each soda. Does it match up with the label? Are certain flavors or brands sweeter than others?

 Concepts: solid measurement, sugar crystals, density