Question

Saccharin is used as a __________.

• A. Food preservative
• B. Artificial sweetener
• C. Anti-oxidant
• D. Antibiotic

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Artificial sweetener

• Saccharin is an artificial sweetener used as a sugar substitute. It is roughly 300 to 400 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar).

• Chemical Properties: Its chemical name is benzoic sulfimide. It is derived from toluene or phthalic anhydride.

• It was the first artificial sweetener discovered, identified by Constantin Fahlberg in 1879 at Johns Hopkins University.

• Characteristics:

  • It is non-nutritive, meaning it provides zero calories as it is not metabolized by the human body.

  • It is stable when heated, making it suitable for baking and cooking compared to some other sweeteners like aspartame.

  • It can have a bitter or metallic aftertaste at high concentrations.

• Health Context: Saccharin is widely used by people with diabetes to manage blood sugar levels, as it does not raise insulin or blood glucose levels.