What Is the Chemical Makeup of Sugar?

Sucrose is the scientific term for table sugar. Chemically, it consists of 12 carbon atoms, 22 hydrogen atoms and 11 oxygen atoms. It is an odorless, white, crystalline carbohydrate found in most plants. The natural substance is an important nutrient, and pure sucrose is the most common sweetener used to flavor foods.

Significance

Plants produce sucrose through photosynthesis, the process of converting direct sunlight into food and energy.

Identification

Carbohydrates contain one or more molecules of sugar. Sucrose is the combination of two simple sugar molecules: glucose and fructose.

Types

Seventy percent of commercial sugar comes from sugarcane, which contains 14 percent sucrose. The other main source is the sugar beet, which contains 16 percent sucrose.

Processing

Sugar manufacturers extract sucrose from these plants and purify it by boiling, crystallizing and drying it to produce table sugar.

Misconception

When you see the term "refined process" on a sugar package, it does not mean overprocessing but rather refers to the process of extracting sucrose from the plant without chemicals or bleaching.

References

• Exploratorium.edu: The Science of Sugar
• World of Molecules: Sucrose Molecule
• Western Sugar Cooperative: About Sugar

Resources

• Sucrose.com: How Sugar Is Made