What substance is created by adding hydrogen atoms to sugar?

When hydrogen atoms are added to sugar, the resulting substance that is formed is sugar alcohols. This process typically involves the hydrogenation of sugars, which transforms them into a different chemical structure. Sugar alcohols, also known as polyols, have a chemical structure that includes both hydroxyl groups and alcohol functional groups, allowing them to have sweetening properties similar to sugars but with fewer calories.

Sugar alcohols are commonly used as low-calorie sweeteners in various food products because they are metabolized differently compared to regular sugars. This distinctive metabolic pathway means they can provide sweetness while having a lesser impact on blood glucose levels, making them popular among people who are managing blood sugar, such as those with diabetes.

The other options mentioned—simple sugars, complex carbohydrates, and dietary fibers—do not accurately describe the outcome of hydrogenating sugar. Simple sugars refer to monosaccharides and disaccharides that are basic building blocks of carbohydrates, while complex carbohydrates consist of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides formed from multiple sugar units. Dietary fibers are non-digestible carbohydrates that contribute to digestive health and do not arise directly from the hydrogenation of sugar. Therefore, the transformation of sugar through the addition of hydrogen atoms specifically leads to the production of sugar alcohol