Why do colored freezy pops turn clear when left outside in the cold?

[KingNothing]

So this last winter, my roommates and I left a bunch of freezy pops outside to get cold fast (the temp was -20F). They were in clear plastic and may have been exposed to the sun.

After about a day, we went to pick them up, and they had all turned clear. They stayed clear even when brought to warmer temps. Why might this be?

 

[Drakkith]

No idea. My freezy pops stay colored even when frozen. But I don't freeze mine to -20 either.

 

[KingNothing]

Why is it that a thread called "what is time?" got hundreds of replies, when my legitimate scientific inquiry gets one?

 

[Drakkith]

Why is it that a thread called "what is time?" got hundreds of replies, when my legitimate scientific inquiry gets one?

It's more interesting?

 

[pmacias]

This phenomenon is due to the process of freezing and thawing that occurs when the freezy pops are left outside in the cold. The colored liquid inside the freezy pops contains microscopic particles of dye that give it its color. When the temperature drops below freezing, these particles become suspended in the liquid and do not have enough energy to move around. As a result, the liquid appears colored and opaque.

However, when the temperature drops even further, the liquid freezes and expands, causing the particles to separate and settle at the bottom. This leaves the liquid clear and transparent, giving the appearance that the freezy pop has lost its color. When brought back to warmer temperatures, the liquid thaws and the particles redistribute, but they may not fully mix back into the liquid, resulting in a paler color or a clear appearance.

Additionally, exposure to sunlight may also contribute to the particles settling at the bottom as the heat from the sun can cause the liquid to expand and contract, further separating the particles.

In conclusion, the change in temperature and exposure to sunlight can cause the particles in the colored freezy pops to settle and separate, resulting in a clear appearance. This is a natural and reversible process that occurs due to the properties of the liquid and the particles within it.