Corn syrup

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/corn-syrup

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the enzymatic conversion?Glucose isomerase enzyme converts glucose to fructose, creating high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
2. How is corn syrup made?Corn starch is split into sugars using enzymes or acid. The process turns the starch into a sweet syrup.
3. Why do candies use corn syrup?Corn syrup stops sugar crystals from forming. This keeps candies smooth and chewy instead of grainy.

Starch Hydrolysis: The enzymatic or acid-catalyzed breakdown of starch into simpler sugars.
Hygroscopicity: The ability of a substance to attract and hold water molecules from the surrounding environment.
Maillard Reaction: A complex chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that gives browned food its distinctive flavor and color.
Caloric Sweetener: Any sweet-tasting substance that provides energy (calories) when consumed.