Final answer:
Splenda® and Sweet’N Low® do not test positive for reducing sugars because they contain the artificial sweeteners sucralose and saccharin, respectively, which do not act as reducing sugars.
Step-by-step explanation:
Splenda® does not test positive for reducing sugars because its primary artificial sweetener is sucralose, which is not a reducing sugar. Sweet’N Low® also does not test positive for reducing sugars; it is sweetened primarily with saccharin, which is another type of artificial sweetener that does not have the ability to act as a reducing sugar.
Other ingredients found in these products may include dextrose and maltodextrin, which are used as bulking agents. However, the presence of these agents does not contribute to a positive test for reducing sugars when using typical analytical methods, as the concentration of the artificial sweeteners themselves dominate the sweetness profile.
In high-intensity or artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, cyclamates, and aspartame, these compounds are used for their sweetness and have no significant caloric value, which is helpful for individuals needing to control carbohydrate intake, such as those with diabetes. Sucralose and saccharin are not sugar alcohols or reducible sugars, hence they do not test positive for reducing sugars.