Question

Artificial sweeteners produce a sensation of sweetness as much as:

a) 1,000 times more than natural sugars.
b) 5,000 times more than natural sugars.
c) 10,000 times more than natural sugars.
d) 50,000 times more than natural sugars.

Answer 1

Artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose are significantly sweeter than sucrose, with sucralose being about 600 times sweeter. Thus, the sensation of sweetness can be as much as 1,000 times more compared to natural sugars.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is regarding the relative sweetness of artificial sweeteners compared to natural sugars such as sucrose (table sugar). Based on a sweetness comparison to sucrose, artificial sweeteners can be significantly more potent. For example, saccharin is described as being 300 to 400 times sweeter than sucrose, and aspartame is 180 times sweeter. However, one of the newest artificial sweeteners, sucralose, is approximately 600 times sweeter than sucrose. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is that the sensation of sweetness of artificial sweeteners is as much as (a) 1,000 times more than natural sugars, although some sweeteners can be much higher.

Answer 2

Artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose are significantly sweeter than natural sugar but none reach the sweetness levels mentioned in the options. The highest among them is sucralose at 600 times sweeter.

Step-by-step explanation:

Artificial sweeteners, also known as high-intensity sweeteners, are substances that provide a sweet taste similar to that of natural sugar (such as sucrose) but are significantly sweeter. These sweeteners are used in much smaller amounts than sugar and typically have less or no calories, making them popular among individuals with diabetes or those looking to control calorie intake. Examples include saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose, among others.

Saccharin is an artificial sweetener discovered in 1879 and is about 300 to 400 times sweeter than sucrose. However, it has been noted to have a bitter aftertaste.

Aspartame is another widely used sweetener, approximately 180 times sweeter than sucrose, it is known for not having an aftertaste and for its use in many foods, although it is not heat stable for uses like baking.

The recent artificial sweetener sucralose was approved by the FDA in 1998 and is about 600 times sweeter than sucrose. Sucralose is heat stable and can be used in baking.

Given this information, none of the options a, b, c, or d are correct as they overstate the sweetness levels of artificial sweeteners compared to natural sugars. The highest sweetness level mentioned is 600 times for sucralose.