Chemistry
Mannitol is a sugar alcohol; that is, it is derived from a sugar by reduction, with a molecular weight of 182.17 g/mol, and a density of 1.52 g/mL. Other sugar alcohols include xylitol and sorbitol. Mannitol and sorbitol are isomers, the only difference being the orientation of the hydroxyl group on carbon 2. Aqueous solutions of mannitol are mildly acidic and sometimes such solutions are treated to lower the pH. Chemical Abstracts Registry Numbers for mannitol are 123897-58-5, 69–65–8 (D-Mannitol), 75398-80-0, 85085-15-0, and 87–78–5 (mannitol with unspecified stereochemistry). D-Mannitol (CAS# 69–65–8) has a solubility of 22g mannitol/ 100mL water (25 °C), and a relative sweetness of 50 (sucrose=100). It melts between 165 and 169 °C (7.6 torr), and boils at 295 °C at 3.5 torr, indicating a greater boiling point at STP conditions.
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