Hey, There's Corn in My Candy!

Difficulty
Time Required	Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites	None
Material Availability	Readily available
Cost	Very Low (under $20)
Safety	This science fair project requires adult help. The boiling sugar solution is extremely hot.

*Note: This is an abbreviated Project Idea, without notes to start your background research, a specific list of materials, or a procedure for how to do the experiment. You can identify abbreviated Project Ideas by the asterisk at the end of the title. If you want a Project Idea with full instructions, please pick one without an asterisk.

Abstract

If you browse through a candy cookbook, you might notice that many of the recipes call for corn syrup in addition to sugar. Both sugar and corn syrup are sweet, so why do you need corn syrup if you already have sugar? In candy making, corn syrup is known as an interfering agent. But what does this mean and how does it work? You can find out for yourself by making two batches of rock candy, one with corn syrup and one without. For example, you could alter the science project When Science is Sweet: Growing Rock Candy Crystals by replacing 1 tablespoon (tbsp) of water (in the sugar-water solution) with 1 tbsp of corn syrup in one of the batches of rock candy. (Make sure the batches are prepared the same in every other way.) Are there any differences between the two rock candy batches? Once you understand what an interfering agent is, you could try experimenting with other ingredients to see if they can act as interfering agents, too.

Are you planning to do a project from Science Buddies?

Come back and tell us about your project using the “I Did This Project” link for the project you choose.

You’ll find a link to “I Did This Project” on every project on the Science Buddies website so don’t forget to share your story!

Got it Remind me later

Cite This Page

MLA Style

Science Buddies Staff. "Hey, There's Corn in My Candy!" Science Buddies. Science Buddies, 28 July 2017. Web. 24 Apr. 2018 <https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/FoodSci_p017/cooking-food-science/corn-syrup-candy>

APA Style

Science Buddies Staff. (2017, July 28). Hey, There's Corn in My Candy!. Retrieved April 24, 2018 from https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/FoodSci_p017/cooking-food-science/corn-syrup-candy

Last edit date: 2017-07-28

Bibliography

Science Buddies. (2013, January 10). When Science is Sweet: Growing Rock Candy Crystals. Retrieved March 21, 2014, from http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/FoodSci_p005.shtml

News Feed on This Topic

, ,

Note: A computerized matching algorithm suggests the above articles. It's not as smart as you are, and it may occasionally give humorous, ridiculous, or even annoying results! Learn more about the News Feed

Ask an Expert

The Ask an Expert Forum is intended to be a place where students can go to find answers to science questions that they have been unable to find using other resources. If you have specific questions about your science fair project or science fair, our team of volunteer scientists can help. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions, offer guidance, and help you troubleshoot.

Ask an Expert

If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring these related careers:

Food Scientist or Technologist

There is a fraction of the world's population that doesn't have enough to eat or doesn't have access to food that is nutritionally rich. Food scientists or technologists work to find new sources of food that have the right nutrition levels and that are safe for human consumption. In fact, our nation's food supply depends on food scientists and technologists that test and develop foods that meet and exceed government food safety standards. If you are interested in combining biology, chemistry, and the knowledge that you are helping people, then a career as a food scientist or technologist could be a great choice for you! Read more

Food Science Technician

Good taste, texture, quality, and safety are all very important in the food industry. Food science technicians test and catalog the physical and chemical properties of food to help ensure these aspects. Read more

Chemist

Everything in the environment, whether naturally occurring or of human design, is composed of chemicals. Chemists search for and use new knowledge about chemicals to develop new processes or products. Read more

Chemical Technician

The role that the chemical technician plays is the backbone of every chemical, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical manufacturing operation. Chemical technicians conduct experiments, record data, and help to implement new processes and procedures in the laboratory. If you enjoy hands-on work, then you might be interested in the career of a chemical technician. Read more

News Feed on This Topic

, ,

Note: A computerized matching algorithm suggests the above articles. It's not as smart as you are, and it may occasionally give humorous, ridiculous, or even annoying results! Learn more about the News Feed

Looking for more science fun?

Try one of our science activities for quick, anytime science explorations. The perfect thing to liven up a rainy day, school vacation, or moment of boredom.

Find an Activity

Hey, There's Corn in My Candy! *

Abstract