Discover Why Lemons Float and Limes Sink in Water

Milo Patterson


It might sound odd, but lemons and limes behave very differently in water. If you drop a lemon into a bowl of water, it floats. But a lime? It sinks!

The reason comes down to two things: density and peel thickness. Lemons tend to have thicker peels with more air pockets inside, making them less dense than water—so they float. Limes, on the other hand, have thinner peels and denser flesh, causing them to sink.

It’s not about size or shape—it’s all about density and buoyancy. Next time you’re in the kitchen, try it out for yourself!


Thanks to Charlie S for submitting the idea for this post

sources:

https://www.bestfoodfacts.org/lemons-float-limes-sink/