Sucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose. Its chemical formula is C12H22O11 and it is commonly known as table sugar. Sucrose has potential health effects if ingested or contacted, but is considered low risk. It is used as a flavoring in formaldehyde for embalming and as a sweetener for foods and beverages. Interestingly, adding or removing molecules from sucrose can form formaldehyde, and artificial sweeteners may break down into formaldehyde in the body. Sucrose is important for this class as it is a chemical compound with a glycosidic linkage that can be broken through hydrolysis.

1. SUCROSE
Delbrita L. Greene

2. WHAT IS THE CHEMICAL MAKE UP OF THIS
CHEMICAL?CHEMICAL FORMULA? SYNONYMS?
 Sucrose is a disaccharide composed of
monosaccharides glucose & fructose.
 Chemical formula:C12H22O11
 Synonyms: Sugar, Saccharose, Beta-D-
Fructofuranosyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside

3. MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
 Potential Acute Health Effects: Slightly hazardous in
case of ingestion of inhalation & skin & eye
contact(irritant)
 Potential Chronic Health Effects: A4(Not
Classifiable for human or animal) by ACGIH.
 Mutagenic Effects: Mutagenic for bacteria and/or
yeast.
 Health-1
 Flammability-1
 Reactivity-o
 Protective Equipment: Gloves, Lab coat, Vapor &
Dust Respirator.

4. HOW IS SUCROSE USED IN THE EMBALMING
PROCESS OR WHY IS IT USED AROUND A
MORTUARY?
 Sugar is used as a flavoring in formaldehyde.
 Sugar substitutes may also be used.
 The only other reason sugar is found in the
mortuary is to sweeten coffee.

5. IN WHAT OTHER WAYS IS THE CHEMICAL
USED?
 Sweetener for foods & beverages
 If given to child prior to immunizations helps shots
go into system faster and less side effects
 Exfoliator for dry skin
 Grass Stain Remover
 Fights infections from forming on cuts and serves
as germ killer. Also helps with healing process.

6. WHAT ARE SOME INTERESTING THINGS YOU
FOUND ABOUT THIS CHEMICAL?
 By adding and subtracting some of the molecules
from sucrose, the chemical formaldehyde can be
formed.
 Aspartame which is the sugar-free “sweetener”
contains methanol, which is what creates
embalming fluids.
 Once methanol breaks down into formaldehyde and
it later breaks down to formic acid in the bodies
stomach.
 Sucrose decomposes as it melts at 186°C(367°F)
to for caramel.

7. WHAT IS SUCROSE?
Sucrose is an organic compound commonly known
as sugar & sometimes called saccharose. It is a
white, odorless, crystalline powder with a sweet taste.

8. HOW IS THE TERM RELATED TO EMBALMING OR
OTHER PRACTICES RELATED TO EMBALMING?
 Sucrose is not used in the embalming process,
however it is used as a flavoring in formaldehyde.
 In ancient Egypt and Middle Eastern people used
honey to preserve bodies. Honey has
approximately the same relative sweetness as
granulated sugar(sucrose).

9. WHAT DO YOU FIND INTERESTING ABOUT THIS
TERM?
I found it quite interesting that there are alternate
uses four the chemical, sugar. I also was quite
fascinated by the use of the alternate “non”
sweeteners breaking down to methanol and in result
having some of the same molecules of formaldehyde.
I also found out that sucrose comes from sugar cane
and also sugar beet.

10. WHY IS THIS TERM IMPORTANT FOR THIS
CLASS?
 Sucrose is important because it is a chemical
compound.
 It has a bond known as a glycosidic linkage.
 Hydrolysis can be performed to break the glycosidic
bond converting sucrose into glucose and fructose.

11. THIS WAS A WONDERFUL
ASSIGNMENT I LEARNED A LOT
ABOUT THE CHEMICAL, SUCROSE.
I understood everything that was researched on the
topic. Thanks

12. http://voices.yahoo.com/5-alternative-uses-
sugar-3010421.html?cat=7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/formaldehyde
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucrose
WORKS CITED