The name polyols refers to chemical compounds containing multiple hydroxyl groups. In two technological disciplines polyols have special meaning: food science and polymer chemistry. For information as it pertains to food ingredients, please see the article on sugar alcohols. A chemical compound is a chemical substance formed from two or more elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. ... // Hydroxyl group The term hydroxyl group is used to describe the functional group -OH when it is a substituent in an organic compound. ... Food science is a discipline concerned with all technical aspects of food, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering, and ending with its cooking and consumption. ... Polymer chemistry or macromolecular chemistry is a multidisciplinary science that deals with the chemical synthesis and chemical properties of polymers or macromolecules. ... A sugar alcohol (also known as a polyol, polyhydric alcohol, or polyalcohol) is a hydrogenated form of carbohydrate, whose carbonyl group (aldehyde or ketone, reducing sugar) has been reduced to a primary or secondary hydroxyl group. ...

Polyols in food science

Sugar alcohols, a class of polyols, are commonly added to foods because of their lower caloric content than sugars; however they are also generally less sweet, and are often combined with high intensity sweeteners . They are also added to chewing gum because they are not metabolized (ie broken down) by bacteria in the mouth, so they do not contribute to tooth decay. Maltitol, sorbitol and Isomalt are some of the more common types. Sugar alcohols may be formed under mild reducing conditions from their analogue sugars. A sugar alcohol (also known as a polyol, polyhydric alcohol, or polyalcohol) is a hydrogenated form of carbohydrate, whose carbonyl group (aldehyde or ketone, reducing sugar) has been reduced to a primary or secondary hydroxyl group. ... Magnified view of refined sugar crystals. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Sugar substitute. ... Chewing gum Chewing gum is a type of confectionery which is designed to be chewed, not swallowed. ... Types of teeth Molars are used for grinding up foods Carnassials are used for slicing food. ... Maltitol is a sugar alcohol (polyol) used as a sugar substitute. ... Sorbitol, also known as glucitol, is a sugar alcohol the body metabolises slowly. ... Isomalt is the only sugar replacer (sugar alcohol), derived exclusively from sucrose. ... Magnified view of refined sugar crystals. ...

Polyols in polymer chemistry

In polymer chemistry polyols are polymers or monomers with hydroxyl functional groups available for organic reactions. Polymeric polyols may be polyethers such as polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or polytetrahydrofuran. Another class of polymeric polyols is the polyesters. A specialist class of polyol is the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadienes. These polyols are extensively used in formulations for polyurethanes. Monomeric polyols include pentaerythritol and glycerin. Polymer chemistry or macromolecular chemistry is a multidisciplinary science that deals with the chemical synthesis and chemical properties of polymers or macromolecules. ... Polymer is a term used to describe a very long molecule consisting of structural units and repeating units connected by covalent chemical bonds. ... In chemistry, a monomer (from Greek mono one and meros part) is a small molecule that may become chemically bonded to other monomers to form a polymer. ... // Hydroxyl group The term hydroxyl group is used to describe the functional group -OH when it is a substituent in an organic compound. ... In organic chemistry functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules, that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules. ... Organic reactions are chemical reactions between organic compounds. ... Ether is the general name for a class of chemical compounds which contain an ether group — an oxygen atom connected to two (substituted) alkyl groups. ... Chemical structure of the polymeric polyethylene glycol Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) are polymers having an identical structure except for chain length and end groups, and are the most commercially important polyethers. ... Polypropylene glycol or polypropylene oxide is the polymer of propylene glycol. ... SEM picture of a bend in a high surface area polyester fiber with a seven-lobed cross section Polyester is a category of polymers, or, more specifically condensation polymers, which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. ... Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) is a polymer of butadiene terminated at each end with a hydroxyl functional group. ... A polyurethane is any polymer consisting of a chain of organic units joined by urethane links. ... Pentaerythritol is a polyol used in the fabrication of PETN and varnishes. ... Glycerin, also well known as glycerine and glycerol, and less commonly as 1,2,3-propanetriol, 1,2,3-trihydroxypropane, glyceritol, and glycyl alcohol is a colorless, odorless, hygroscopic, and sweet-tasting viscous liquid. ...

References

• http://www.spipolyols.com/whatarepolyols.html Website
• http://polyols.synair.com/about_polyols.htm Website