Final answer:
Sucralose inherits its chirality centers from sucrose and has multiple such centers. Each chlorine substitution on a carbon atom that was part of a chirality center in sucrose maintains the chirality in sucralose. The exact count should be determined by examining the structure of sucralose provided.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the number of chirality centres in sucralose, a chlorinated derivative of sucrose. Sucralose retains most of the structural characteristics of sucrose but has three chlorine atoms that replace three hydroxyl (-OH) groups. A chirality centre, also known as a stereocenter, is a carbon atom bonded to four different groups. As such, sucrose, which has multiple hydroxyl groups attached to its carbon atoms, has potential chirality centres.
When considering sucralose, it inherits chirality centres from the parent compound, sucrose. Since each of the chlorine substitutions occurs on a carbon that was part of a chirality centre in sucrose, these substituted centres retain their chiral nature. Therefore, if a student counts the number of carbon atoms with the necessary four different groups attached in sucralose's structure, they can determine the number of chirality centres.
It is important to note that for full credit, the student would need to count the chirality centres based on the specific structure provided. However, since I don't have the structure in front of me, I cannot provide the exact count. Typically, sucrose has several chirality centers, and most would be retained in sucralose.
When discussing artificial sweeteners, it's crucial to mention that they are often noncaloric or low-calorie, and sucralose, specifically, is heat stable, making it suitable for baking. Its intense sweetness compared to sucrose is why it is used in much lower quantities.