What is the main reason that it takes 2 to 3 minutes for the reaction to occur between sucrose and sulfuric acid in the dehydration of sucrose?

The reaction does not begin instantly because the sucrose and sulfuric acid must first gain enough energy to overcome the reaction’s activation-energy barrier. Once that barrier is overcome, the dehydration reaction proceeds and produces the visible changes. Sulfuric acid acts as a dehydrating agent rather than needing to be consumed first, so choice B is not the reason for the delay.

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