What will sugar dissolve in besides water?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on finding a safe solvent for dissolving ordinary white crystallized table sugar, with a focus on substances that evaporate and leave sugar as a residue. Methanol is identified as a solvent that can dissolve sugar, but caution is advised due to its potential skin absorption and toxicity if ingested. While methanol can be handled safely with proper precautions, prolonged skin contact can lead to health risks, although such cases are rare. Denatured alcohol, primarily ethanol mixed with toxic substances, is noted to be ineffective for dissolving sugar. Participants express uncertainty about the availability of methanol and clarify the differences between methanol and denatured alcohol.
TalonD
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Well, the tittle says it all. Other than water, what will dissolve ordinary white crystalized table sugar. Specifically something that would evaporate and leave behind the sugar as a residue. Also something that is reasonably safe to handle.
 
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there was a reply here. where did it go?
 
Sugar is somewhat dissolvable in methanol, which is reasonably safe to handle as long as you don't drink it.
 
alxm said:
Sugar is somewhat dissolvable in methanol, which is reasonably safe to handle as long as you don't drink it.
Correction - you don't want it in contact with your skin, either, since it can enter your body through that route.
 
turbo-1 said:
Correction - you don't want it in contact with your skin, either, since it can enter your body through that route.

Well, that's true, but it's not at a rate that's particularly hazardous. But I did find http://occmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/42/1/47.short" of a guy who'd actually gotten methanol poisoning (from which he recovered) by that route. Pretty extreme situation though; he'd been wearing methanol-drenched clothes for hours.

But it's safe to say >99% of all methanol poisoning cases are due to ingestion, and there's no cause for worry if you just spilling some on yourself. It takes pretty significant and prolonged exposure.
 
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Methanol? I tried dissolving it in denatured alcohol but that is ethanol isn't it? It wouldn't dissolve in that at least not that I could see. How much is somewhat? I'm not sure where I can get methanol.
 
Yes, denatured alcohol is ethanol with toxins added. The place where our lab got theirs denatured the ethanol with acetone, aviation gasoline and MEK, IIR.
 
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