Sugar (White Sugar) Safety Inspection

Sugar is adulterated with chalk powder (to increase weight and volume) and sometimes urea (which also tastes sweet but is harmful). 1. The Visual Inspection: Pure sugar has clear, crystalline appearance with uniform white color and slight transparency. Look closely at the crystals - they should be well-defined with sharp edges. Chalk powder makes sugar appear dull, opaque, and the particles look powdery rather than crystalline. 2. The HCl Test (For Chalk Detection): Add a few drops of diluted hydrochloric acid (HCl) to a sample of sugar in a glass. Pure sugar will not react - no bubbles, no fizzing. If chalk powder is present, you'll see immediate fizzing and bubbling (effervescence) as calcium carbonate reacts with acid to produce CO2 gas. This is the most reliable test for chalk. 3. The Texture Test: Rub sugar between your fingers. Pure sugar feels gritty and crystalline with a rough texture. Chalk-adulterated sugar feels smoother, more powdery, and may leave a chalky white residue on your fingers that's different from sugar texture. 4. The Dissolving Test in Water: Put sugar in a glass of water and stir until it dissolves. Pure sugar dissolves completely, leaving clear solution with no residue. Chalk powder doesn't dissolve well - you'll see white cloudy residue settling at the bottom or floating particles. The water becomes milky instead of clear. 5. The Taste Test (Use with Caution): Taste a tiny amount. Pure sugar is purely sweet. Urea-adulterated sugar has a slightly bitter or chemical aftertaste along with sweetness. If you detect unusual taste, do not consume.