Mannitol: Its Chemistry and Applications

by Yuvi K - January 7, 2024

Mannitol – Chemistry & Applications

Mannitol, also known as Mannite or D-Mannitol, is an important sugar alcohol found naturally in plants and food sources, and is manufactured in laboratories for industrial and medical purposes. In chemistry, mannitol is a reducing sugar, meaning it contains aldehyde or ketone groups that can act as oxidizing agents. It is also a polyol, or alcohol with multiple hydroxyl groups attached to a single molecule.

Structure and Properties

Mannitol has a molecular weight of 182.17g/mol and a molar mass of O4H14O7. Its chemical structure consists of seven carbon atoms, fourteen hydrogens, and four oxygen atoms. The four oxygen atoms form a ring-shape underneath the seven carbon atoms. It’s an odourless, white crystalline powder that’s water-soluble and has slight sweetness.

Chemical Reaction

Mannitol is a reducing sugar, meaning its aldehyde or ketone functional group allows it to act as an oxidizing agent. During a chemical reaction, this oxidizing agent reduces the other reagents involved in the reaction, leading to a release of energy and a formation of new molecular compounds.

Uses

Mannitol has a wide variety of uses in both commercial and scientific settings. In nutrition, it has been widely used as a sweetener, an emulsifying agent, and as an ingredient in nutritional supplements and vitamins. It is also used as a bulk laxative in pharmaceuticals, and as a preservative and stabilizing agent in food products.

In industrial applications, mannitol is used as a lubricant and an emulsifying agent in paints, varnishes, and resins. It is also used as a polymer in industrial detergents, as a fuel in rockets, and as a foam stabilizing agent in fire extinguishing systems.