|  | Diet Nutrition | Nutrition

What Scientific Properties Are Found in Sugar?

Sugar, the sweet, white crystallized ingredient used to counteract bitterness and tartness in flavored drinks, foods and deserts, is a complex component with many scientific qualities. Although often thought of as a mass produced chemical, sugar is a naturally occurring component found in a variety of plants such as sugar beets and sugar cane.

  1. Carbon

    • Carbon is an essential and naturally occurring scientific property found in sugar. On average, each molecule of sugar contains 12 atoms of carbon. These 12-carbon disaccharides are composed of equal units of glucose and fructose, sometimes referred to as monosaccharides and are joined together by a glycosidic bond. These components are found in all naturally occurring sugar compounds such as those present in fruits, vegetables and organic, unrefined honey.

    Hydrogen

    • Hydrogen is another scientific property that is found naturally in sugar, For each molecule of sugar, 22 atoms of hydrogen are present. When burned or when hydrogen is elevated to high temperatures, it produces water. This is what helps to give sugar its crystallized appearance when presented in such forms as table sugar. Hydrogen in itself is odorless, colorless and flavorless, but when combined with the other naturally occurring components of sugar becomes sweet to the taste.

    Oxygen

    • Oxygen, a building-block essential to life, is another common scientific property found in natural sugar. In each molecule of sugar, 11 atoms of oxygen are present. Much like that of hydrogen, oxygen in its pure form is odorless, colorless and flavorless, but when combined with the other organic and scientific compounds found in natural sugars such as fruit juice, honey and certain vegetables, oxygen becomes sweet to the taste.

    Carbohydrates

    • Natural sugars that are found in organic products such as oranges, bananas, carrots, potatoes and sugar cane are all high in carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are what help to provide the body with energy and are essential to the sustenance of life. Although a natural scientific property of sugar, carbohydrates, when too much is absorbed, can be dangerous; the body is unable to break them down and the residual carbohydrates are stored in the body as excess fat, increasing the risk of developing diabetes.

Nutrition - Related Articles