Tag: Chemical modification

Despite the catchy slogan, the active ingredient in Splenda, sucralose, is not a byproduct of sugar but a modified chemical compound. The question, 'Is splenda a byproduct of sugar?', is a common misconception that deserves clarification regarding its manufacturing and composition.

In a process discovered in 1976, ordinary table sugar, or sucrose, is the starting material for the creation of sucralose. The answer to what two sugars make up sucralose is both simple and complex, as it is derived from sucrose, which is itself composed of glucose and fructose. The final sucralose molecule is a modified version of these original sugars, with key structural changes.

The chemical process of hydrogenation, a method first developed in the early 20th century, is the primary industrial process where liquid oil changes to fat. This transformation is essential for creating a variety of food products, from margarine to baked goods, by altering the oil's physical state from liquid to solid or semi-solid.

Sucralose is a zero-calorie artificial sweetener that is approximately 600 times sweeter than regular table sugar. While it starts with a sugar molecule as its base, sucralose is not a natural sugar but a modified chemical compound that our body cannot metabolize.

As the most abundant organic polymer on Earth, cellulose forms the structural backbone of plant cell walls. While raw cellulose is not a conventional glue, the question, "Is cellulose a natural adhesive?" is answered by its potential when chemically modified into powerful, eco-friendly binding agents like methyl cellulose.

Starch is a ubiquitous biopolymer found abundantly in nature, but native starches have functional limitations that restrict their industrial use. Therefore, to overcome these drawbacks, the process of modification is carried out, leading to the creation of what is known as modified starch.