Dextrose Monohydrate: Description, Properties, Structure, and Use

What is Dextrose Monohydrate?

Dextrose monohydrate sits on production lines and lab benches as a form of glucose, a simple sugar. It shows up as a white crystalline powder, dissolving easily in water, and often comes with a slightly sweet taste familiar to anyone who’s ever added a spoonful of table sugar to coffee. Unlike sucrose, dextrose is a monosaccharide—meaning it heads straight into metabolic pathways, fueling physical and biological processes with raw energy. Its chemical formula is C₆H₁₂O₆·H₂O, marking its distinct structure as a hydrated form of glucose. Unlike syrups or liquids, the monohydrate form possesses water bound within its crystal lattice, shaping how the powder behaves in factory settings and the kitchen. This even influences shelf life and storage. A closer look at a sample under light reveals translucent, crystalline particles that flow, almost like fine grains of salt, making it handy for direct mixing or solution making.

Physical Properties and Specifications

Dextrose monohydrate arrives in different forms—flaky, solid, powdery, pearl-like, sometimes even in liquid solutions. Most commonly, it’s packed as a free-flowing, granular powder, and that flexibility translates into industrial and food-processing advantages. The density lands at about 1.54 g/cm³, and melting kicks in around 83°C, sometimes a bit higher depending on purity. The product absorbs moisture from the air if left open, making sealed containers a must for warehouses. With a molecular weight of 198.17 g/mol, it slides into formulations with precise control, especially important in fermentation and food recipes. A kilo fills roughly 0.65 liters, so storage math is straightforward for suppliers moving huge volumes. Chemically, the structure carries six carbons in the familiar ring, with each oxygen and hydrogen arranged so that dextrose can quickly enter cellular respiration.

Structure, Formula, and Characteristics

Peering into molecular details, dextrose monohydrate’s crystal structure carries each molecule of glucose joined by a single, stable water molecule. This gives it a slightly larger mass compared to the anhydrous counterpart but also helps with flow and blending, especially when high-volume recipes or chemical processes call for bulk handling. The monohydrate form ensures the powder pours easily and resists caking if humidity stays in check. These crystals often catch light, giving off a slight sparkle—a telltale sign of purity. Dextrose solutions offer predictable sweetness, more direct than sucrose, and slide into syrups, sports drinks, or even intravenous fluids. Each liter of solution holds a specific concentration—often 50 grams per 100 mL for medical-grade mixes.

HS Code, Safety, and Chemical Properties

The product’s trade and customs classification uses the HS Code 170230, cycling through global routes in bulk shipments. Warehouses store it as a raw material for chemical synthesis, fermentation, and food processing. On safety sheets, you won’t see high hazard warnings—dextrose monohydrate doesn’t combust or degrade rapidly. Still, dust control measures matter in production settings to minimize respiratory irritation and slip hazards from spills. Large-scale industrial users follow occupational safety standards for dust exposure just like with flour or cornstarch. The material’s solubility in water makes for easy cleanup, and any residual product on hands rinses off without concern for skin absorption or toxicity. During shipping, bags and containers sport clear labeling to ensure quick identification and traceability for food safety and regulatory audits.

Uses as a Raw Material and Industry Value

Dextrose monohydrate underpins both industrial chemistry and food manufacture. Bakers depend on its rapid fermentability to push up dough rise and boost yeast activity. Breweries pour it in to feed fermentation tanks. Candy makers blend precise quantities for texture control. Pharmaceutical companies formulate oral and injectable solutions, where fast absorption and purity take top priority. Beyond food and drugs, textile and chemical plants use dextrose to help synthesize materials—reactions need a reliable, pure carbon source, and this sugar fills that gap. Paper manufacturers add it to modify surface properties; concrete producers sometimes use it to slow curing, and biotechnologists count on it as a starter sugar for cell cultures. Consistency in structure from batch to batch means minimal surprises, keeping production lines humming and costs predictable.

Hazardous or Harmful Characteristics

On hazard scales, dextrose monohydrate stands low compared to stronger chemicals. Allergic reactions are rare, limited mainly to dust exposure in sensitive workers or those with underlying allergies. Ingested in huge quantities, it can disrupt blood sugar regulation or dental health, but so can any refined carbohydrate—excess, not the substance itself, drives risk. As a chemical, dextrose monohydrate doesn’t corrode metals or degrade common storage plastics, sidestepping problems that tougher chemicals create. Environmental hazard stands minimal—spilled powder doesn’t pollute groundwater or build up in ecosystems; it dissolves away and acts as food for microbes. Emergency crews treating spills see it as a nuisance more than a threat: brooms and water solve most cleanups.

Key Takeaways for Lab, Industrial, and Food Users

I’ve handled dextrose monohydrate in both kitchen and classroom. Its straightforward physical nature—powder, easy to measure, fast to dissolve—lets you focus on process without fighting with your ingredients. Knowing the detailed specs—molecular formula, melting point, density, and reactivity—makes accurate dosing second nature, whether you’re scaling up an industrial batch or prepping a glucose solution for a science experiment. Safety comes from cleanliness: store it dry and sealed, use standard dust protection, and understand it’s a basic sugar, not something that needs high-grade chemical handling protocols. For most users, dextrose monohydrate is the definition of a reliable raw material—made for modern production lines, and built on clear, proven science.