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Sucrose - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Sucrose : (noun)
1: a complex carbohydrate found in many plants and used as a
sweetening agent [syn: saccharose]
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Sucrose : \Su"crose`\, n. [F. sucre sugar. See Sugar.] (Chem.)
A common variety of sugar found in the juices of many plants,
as the sugar cane, sorghum, sugar maple, beet root, etc. It
is extracted as a sweet, white crystalline substance which is
valuable as a food product, and, being antiputrescent, is
largely used in the preservation of fruit. Called also
saccharose, cane sugar, etc. By extension, any one of the
class of isomeric substances (as lactose, maltose, etc.) of
which sucrose proper is the type.
Note: Sucrose proper is a dextrorotatory carbohydrate,
C12H22O11. It does not reduce Fehling's solution, and
though not directly fermentable, yet on standing with
yeast it is changed by the diastase present to invert
sugar (dextrose and levulose), which then breaks down
to alcohol and carbon dioxide. It is also decomposed to
invert sugar by heating with acids, whence it is also
called a disaccharate
Based on WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003)
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