Introduction

Ribena was first made in the 1930s using blackcurrants and has since become one of the most popular drinks around today.[1] Ingredients found in Ribena includes Water, Glucose, Sucrose, Blackcurrant Juice, Citric Acid, Vitamin C, Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Bisulphite), and Colour (Anthocyanins).[2] In our experiment, we are going to do qualitative tests on Glucose, Sucrose and Potassium Sorbate, while quantitative tests on Vitamin C and Citric Acid. Glucose, C6H12O6 is a simple monosaccharide. It is one of the three dietary monosaccharides that are absorbed directly into the bloodstream during digestion. An important carbohydrate in biology, cells use it as the primary source of energy and a metabolic intermediate. Glucose is one of the main fuels for cellular respiration. Glucose exists in several different molecular structures, but all of these structures can be divided into two families of mirror-images (stereoisomers). Glucose is a primary source of energy for the brain, and hence its availability influences psychological processes.[3] Sucrose is the organic compound commonly known as table sugar. A white, odorless, crystalline powder with a sweet taste, it is best known for its nutritional role. The molecule is a disaccharide composed of the monosaccharides glucose and fructose with the molecular formula C12H22O11. Hydrolysis process breaks the glycosidic bond converting sucrose into glucose and fructose. In humans and other mammals, sucrose is broken down into its constituent monosaccharides, glucose and fructose, by sucrase or isomaltaseglycoside hydrolases, which are located in the membrane of the microvilli lining the duodenum. The resulting glucose and fructose molecules are then rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream.[4] Potassium sorbate is the potassium salt of sorbic acid, chemical formula C6H7KO2. Its primary use is as a food preservative. Potassium sorbate is effective in a variety of applications including food, wine, and personal care products. Commercial sources are now produced by the condensation of crotonaldehyde and ketene. Potassium sorbate is used to inhibit molds and yeasts in many foods, such as cheese, wine, yogurt, dried meats, apple cider, soft drinks, fruit drinks, and baked goods. It can also be found in the ingredients list of many dried fruit products. In addition, herbal dietary supplement products generally contain potassium sorbate, which acts to prevent mold and microbes and to increase shelf life, and is used in quantities at which there are no known adverse health effects, over short periods of time.
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Citric acid is a weak organic acid with the formula C6H8O7. It is a natural preservative and is also used to add an acidic or sour taste to foods and soft drinks. Citric acid is a commodity chemical, and more than a million tonnes are produced every year by fermentation. It is used mainly as an acidifier, as a flavoring, and as a chelating agent. Citric acid can be added to recipes in place of fresh lemon juice. Citric acid is used with sodium bicarbonate in a wide range of effervescent formulae, both for ingestion and for personal care. Citric acid is also often used in cleaning products and sodas or fizzy drinks.[6]

Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid, with the formula C6H8O6, is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species. Ascorbic acid is a weak sugar acid structurally related to glucose. In biological systems, ascorbic acid can be found only at low pH. The richest natural sources are fruits and vegetables. Fruits contain the highest concentration of the vitamin. It is also present in some cuts of meat, especially liver. Vitamin C is the most widely taken nutritional supplement and is available in a variety of forms, including tablets, drink mixes, crystals in capsules or naked crystals. Vitamin C is absorbed by the intestines using a sodium-ion dependent channel. It is transported through the intestine via both glucose-sensitive and glucose-insensitive mechanisms. The presence of large quantities of sugar either in the intestines or in the blood can slow absorption.[7]