Tag: Sucrose composition

Sucrose, the white crystalline powder commonly known as table sugar, is a disaccharide, or 'double sugar,' with the chemical formula C12H22O11. Found naturally in plants like sugarcane and sugar beets, it is one of the most widely consumed carbohydrates in the world. To understand sucrose, we must delve into its fundamental building blocks and the unique chemical bond that holds them together.

Many people mistakenly believe that common table sugar, or sucrose, is formed from two glucose molecules, but this is a scientific misconception. Sucrose is actually a disaccharide composed of one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule, which gives it distinct chemical properties.

Over 175 million tons of sugar are produced globally each year, with sucrose being the most common form. To understand this ubiquitous sweetener, it is essential to know what monosaccharides are sucrose made of: the simple sugars glucose and fructose.

According to USDA data, a single teaspoon of pure granulated sugar contains zero grams of protein. This fact highlights the crucial difference between sugar and protein, two distinct macronutrients that serve entirely separate functions in the human body.