Structural Formula of Sucrose (Table Salt)

Sugar is a type of carbohydrate that occurs naturally in plants and provides a sweet taste.

• Chemically, table sugar is sucrose, a disaccharide with the molecular formula C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁​.
• Composed of one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule linked by a glycosidic bond.
• It is widely used as a sweetener in foods and beverages.

As discussed above, Sugar is made up of two monosaccharides connected via a glycosidic bond.

Physical Properties

• Sugar appears in white crystalline solid form.
• The molecular weight of Sugar is 342.30 g/mol.
• Its Melting point decomposes at 459 K.
• The density of sugar is 1.587 g/cm³.
• It is soluble in water, and its solubility at a temperature of 20° C is 203.9g/100mL.
• Its standard enthalpy of combustion is 5647 kJ.mol^-1.

Chemical Properties

• Sucrose/sugar can be dehydrated in the presence of Sulfuric acid to obtain a black solid that is rich in carbon and small quantities of SO₃. The chemical reaction is given below,

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ + H₂SO₄ → 11H₂O + 12C (black carbon-rich solid) + heat

• Sugar molecule (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) reacts with Chloric acid (HClO₃) to yield Hydrochloric acid, Carbon dioxide, and water.

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ + 8HClO₃ → 8HCl + 11H₂O + 12CO₂ 

• Sucrose reacts with powerful oxidizing agents like Potassium nitrate (KNO₃) to produce a special type of fuel called rocket candy. The chemical reaction is given below-

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ + 6KNO₃ → 3K₂CO₃ + 3N₂ + 9CO + 11H₂O

Uses of Sugar/Sucrose

• Sucrose is used as a food preservative.
• Sugar is one of the important components of soft drinks.
• It also serves as an antioxidant.
• It acts as a food thickening agent and as a food stabilizer.
• Jams, Jellies, and sweets are prepared with the help of Sugar.
• Sucrose is used in baking for a rich brown color appearance.
• It is used as a chemical intermediate for detergents.