Question

Which among the following is an artificial sweetening agent?
A. Honey
B. Maple Syrup
C. Saccharin
D. Molasses

Answer 1

Hint: Artificial sweeteners have no nutritive value. They have been made special for the person who is suffering from obese or diabeties, and natural sugar comsuption is harmful. Artificial sweeteners stimulate the taste of the tongue that are stimulated by sugars, but as compared to natural sugars they are of no good food value of nutrients and may also harm the body, if used to excess.

Complete answer:
The substitute for the natural sugar is the artificial sweetener because it does not add more calories to our diet. It can be used in dairy products, soft drinks, jams, etc. directly.
Honey is a natural sweetener and comes from the honey bee, and provides more nutrients but they are very rich in calories that are not overused. Honey is an antioxidant rich in vitamins (E and C) and minerals. But it is not given to the new born baby because it contains botulism bacteria that may cause serious health problems in infants.

Honey

Maple syrup is also a natural sweetener and comes from the sap of sugar maple trees. It does not contain any artificial ingredients.

Maple syrup

Saccharin is the most widely used artificial sweetener and is 400 times sweeter than sucrose. Its chemical structure is different from that of a carbohydrate. It is white, crystalline, sparingly soluble solid with a m.p. $227^\circ C$ and is manufactured from toluene, $C_6H_5. CH_3$.

Saccharin

Molasses is a natural sweetener obtained from the sugarcane juice or we say it is a liquid sugar that mainly contains sucrose, fructose and glucose. It is not as sweet as table sugar.

Molasses
Therefore, Saccharin is an artificial sweetening agent from the given options. So, option (C) is correct.

Note:
1. Artificial sweeteners are not safe for our body because they are made up of synthetic substances that are not easily digestible.
2. It also lowers our metabolism and by this the balance of insulin and glucagon is disturb. This increases our hunger and leads to overeating.