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zyiadem t1_j4vi4ms wrote

Reply to comment by -Raskyl in Why, and how, does a combination of isopropyl alcohol and salt, plus a lot of shaking, remove the resin tar from the inside of a water pipe? by dankantspelle

I wouldn't use sugar because anybody who has smelled a used/dirty "water pipe" knows that bacteria already have a home there and I wouldn't want them having any more food than they already do, salt on the other hand is slightly anti-bacterial/viral/fungal and as such a really great substance for cleaning.

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-Raskyl t1_j4viq4b wrote

Ya, like I said, twice now.... I agree salt is the better choice.....

But I'm curious why they think sugar wouldn't wash away as thoroughly when both salt and sugar are water soluble. That is all.

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MagicPeacockSpider t1_j4w4lb1 wrote

The reason sugar won't wash away as easily is it will already be sticking to other things in the pipe.

Sugar has hydrogen bonds so any small amount that does dissolve in the alcohol will readily stick to other things.

Sugar will also easily dissolve with any water already in the pipe.

Once sugar has stuck to other things it may technically no longer be sugar but it will still be there.

Salt might react but generally the NaCl bond is pretty common because neither readily reacts with much else.

Flourine from any fluorides around maybe and heavier earth metals but generally, and water and the ions will just stay pretty close to each other in solution.

Hydrogen bonds like other hydrogen bonds and lots of stuff has hydrogen bonds.

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whoamiforrealsie t1_j4vjgza wrote

I get what you’re asking and have the same question.

My current guess is that, while sugar does dissolve in water, it leaves a residue behind when dumping the water. So to clean it, you would need to use a soap.

No clue if that’s even close, though.

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