4 ms·

I remember in chemistry we learned the difference between ordinary, reagent grade sucrose and the fancy, organic, fair trade, whole wheat, gluten free sucrose.

I remember in chemistry we learned the difference between ordinary, reagent grade sucrose and the fancy, organic, fair trade, whole wheat, gluten free sucrose. The fancy stuff was way better for you.

eesmith 7y ago
How can sucrose be "whole wheat"? And why would reagent grade sucrose have gluten in it? Sucrose usually comes from gluten-free sources, like sugar beets and cane, yes?
- gamblor956 7y ago
  It was a joke...Sucrose is sucrose regardless of the source.
  - eesmith 7y ago
    Looks like I'm being downvoted because I can't distinguish your humor from your being misinformed by your teacher. I thought it was a lesson that that "reagent grade" is different from "food grade", Eq, https://www.spectrumchemical.com/OA_HTML/chemical-products_Sucrose-Ultrapure_S1697.jsp?minisite=10020&respid=22372&phrase=Sucrose%20Food%20Grade https://www.spectrumchemical.com/OA_HTML/chemical-products_S... lists 99.9% purity, while commenting: "Sucrose, Ultrapure, also known as sugar, is derived from cane sugar and used as a food sweetener. Ungraded products supplied by Spectrum are indicative of a grade suitable for general industrial use or research purposes and typically are not suitable for human consumption or therapeutic use." (What is "reagent grade" for sucrose? Sigma-Aldrich's "ACS reagent grade" sucrose is only promising ≥99% purity (see https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/substance/sucrose342305750111?lang=en&region=US https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/substance/sucrose342305... ). So I figured there was some common lab impurity in sucrose that your teacher was referring to, which you mistook for, or mis-remembered as gluten. As you almost certainly know, "organic" and "fair trade" refer to farming and labor practices, which is independent of the chemical content. The latter may be better for your mental well-being, for those sensitive to humans subjected to terrible employment practices.
    - gamblor956 7y ago
      I'm well aware of the differences between the different grades of sugar. You're still not getting the OP's joke. Purities aside, all sucrose is just as good or bad for you health-wise as any other sucrose. As you almost certainly know, organic and fair trade refers to farming and labor practices, which is independent of chemical content. This is why fair trade sugar isn't any better for you than non-fair trade sugar. The substance you're eating is the same.
      - eesmith 7y ago
        "Purities aside"? My objection - and confusion - is precisely because when you buy "reagent grade sucrose", you don't actually buy 100% pure sucrose - you buy "sucrose with a small amount of impurities." And the impurities that are okay in a lab might not be healthy. Yes, in retrospect I can see where the humor is supposed to be. But I think it isn't a good joke, for reasons I've described.

I remember in chemistry we learned the difference between ordinary, reagent grade sucrose and the fancy, organic, fair trade, whole wheat, gluten free sucrose. The fancy stuff was way better for you.

eesmith 7y ago

How can sucrose be "whole wheat"? And why would reagent grade sucrose have gluten in it? Sucrose usually comes from gluten-free sources, like sugar beets and cane, yes?

gamblor956 7y ago
It was a joke...Sucrose is sucrose regardless of the source.
- eesmith 7y ago
  Looks like I'm being downvoted because I can't distinguish your humor from your being misinformed by your teacher. I thought it was a lesson that that "reagent grade" is different from "food grade", Eq, https://www.spectrumchemical.com/OA_HTML/chemical-products_Sucrose-Ultrapure_S1697.jsp?minisite=10020&respid=22372&phrase=Sucrose%20Food%20Grade https://www.spectrumchemical.com/OA_HTML/chemical-products_S... lists 99.9% purity, while commenting: "Sucrose, Ultrapure, also known as sugar, is derived from cane sugar and used as a food sweetener. Ungraded products supplied by Spectrum are indicative of a grade suitable for general industrial use or research purposes and typically are not suitable for human consumption or therapeutic use." (What is "reagent grade" for sucrose? Sigma-Aldrich's "ACS reagent grade" sucrose is only promising ≥99% purity (see https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/substance/sucrose342305750111?lang=en&region=US https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/substance/sucrose342305... ). So I figured there was some common lab impurity in sucrose that your teacher was referring to, which you mistook for, or mis-remembered as gluten. As you almost certainly know, "organic" and "fair trade" refer to farming and labor practices, which is independent of the chemical content. The latter may be better for your mental well-being, for those sensitive to humans subjected to terrible employment practices.
  - gamblor956 7y ago
    I'm well aware of the differences between the different grades of sugar. You're still not getting the OP's joke. Purities aside, all sucrose is just as good or bad for you health-wise as any other sucrose. As you almost certainly know, organic and fair trade refers to farming and labor practices, which is independent of chemical content. This is why fair trade sugar isn't any better for you than non-fair trade sugar. The substance you're eating is the same.
    - eesmith 7y ago
      "Purities aside"? My objection - and confusion - is precisely because when you buy "reagent grade sucrose", you don't actually buy 100% pure sucrose - you buy "sucrose with a small amount of impurities." And the impurities that are okay in a lab might not be healthy. Yes, in retrospect I can see where the humor is supposed to be. But I think it isn't a good joke, for reasons I've described.