Since water molecules are strongly attracted to each other, or have a high surface tension, it keeps the pepper afloat. Adding soap breaks down the surface tension and as the water molecules spread out away from the soap, they brings the pepper with them.
Another frequently asked question is “Why does pepper float on water?”.
One source claimed that the pepper is able to float on the surface because water molecules like to cling to one another . They arrange themselves in a way that creates surface tension on the top of the water. This tension keeps the pepper flakes floating on top instead of sinking to the bottom of the bowl.
The next thing we wanted the answer to was, why do pepper flakes float on top of the bowl?
This tension keeps the pepper flakes floating on top instead of sinking to the bottom of the bowl. You should have observed a change in the behavior of the pepper flakes when you added different household products.
Why doesn’t the pepper float in soap?
As the soap moves into the water, and the surface tension changes, the pepper no longer floats on top . But the water molecules still want to keep the surface tension going, so they pull back away from the soap, and carry the pepper along with them.
Why does the pepper sink to the bottom of the plate?
The pepper sinks to the bottom of the plate because the surface tension of the water is too low to hold up the particles . The high surface tension of water is why spiders and some insects can walk on water .
Does pepper dissolve in water?
Therefore, unlike salt or sugar pepper will not dissolve in water. The pepper is able to float on the surface because water molecules like to cling to one another. They arrange themselves in a way that creates surface tension on the top of the water. This tension keeps the pepper flakes floating on top instead of sinking to the bottom of the bowl.