Aspartame is a widely used sweetener - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 2 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 2
Aspartame is a widely used sweetener.
Aspartame
A. contains a glycosidic link.
B. is a naturally occurring sugar.
C. has an energy content similar to that of sucro... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Aspartame is a widely used sweetener - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 2 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
A. contains a glycosidic link.
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Answer
This statement is incorrect. Aspartame does not contain a glycosidic link; rather, it is a dipeptide formed from the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine.
Step 2
B. is a naturally occurring sugar.
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Answer
This statement is not accurate. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener and not a naturally occurring sugar.
Step 3
C. has an energy content similar to that of sucrose.
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Answer
This statement is true. Aspartame provides approximately 4 calories per gram, similar to sucrose. However, due to its high sweetness intensity, only a small amount is needed to achieve the desired sweetness, resulting in a lower effective caloric intake.
Step 4
D. contains two amino groups in its chemical structure.
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Answer
This statement is also true. Aspartame is made up of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine, both of which contain amino groups in their structures.
