Does sugar affect the size of a gum bubble?

Gum bubbles are formed by trapping air inside a thin film of gum. The surface tension of the gum film acts like a membrane, holding the air inside the bubble. When sugar is added to the gum, it dissolves in the saliva and reduces the surface tension of the gum film. This makes the gum film weaker and less able to hold the air inside the bubble, causing the bubble to burst more easily.

In addition, sugar can also increase the viscosity of the saliva, making it more difficult to blow a bubble. This is because the sugar molecules interfere with the movement of the saliva molecules, making it harder for the saliva to flow smoothly and form a bubble.

Therefore, adding sugar to gum can both reduce the size of gum bubbles and make them more difficult to blow.