The Chemistry of Gummy Worms

IntroductionGummy worms has always been a really tasteful small candy that many people have enjoyed ever since it was made. I choose gummy worms because not only do they come in all sorts of different colors but they come in many different sizes and flavors. Then it has affected my life because when I'm hungry for candy I always think about gummy worms and then i go and get some. Then when you buy some a lot comes in one bag no matter what size bag it is.

Composition of ...

The composition of gummy worms is corn syrup, sucrose, gelatin, contains less than 2% of the following, Lactic acid, Citric Acid, Fumaric Acid, Water, Modified Food Starch, Artificial Color (includes Red #40, Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Blue #1), Natural and Artificial Flavor.

The chemical equation for corn syrup is C6 H12 06 plus H2O. Corn syrup is made from the starch of maize and contains varying amounts of maltose and higher oligosaccharides.Then the chemical makeup of sucrose is C12 H22 Oll. Sucrose is made from table sugar. Both those are not naturally occurring elements they were actually made in a lab tested and approved and put into many things around the world.

Chemistry's Role

Both of my main components are not naturally made they were both man made. They weren’t really made in a lab for say, but they were made by someone. Yes the the final product is man made. Chemistry plays a role in it because in order to put it all together and make it look the way it does you have to have chemistry. Chemistry puts all the flavors together and makes it all work together.

Background Research

The background behind gummy worms is very complex. Gummy worms are made by a mixture of sugar, glucose syrup, starch, flavouring, food coloring, citric acid, and gelatin. The hot liquid mixture is poured into starch molds and allowed to cool for a period of time. Then once they are cooled they can be removed and packaged. They are made in a factory. With a production line and workers. The gummy worm was made in 1981 at the time it wasn't wanted as much as it is today. People in that day would have to agree that those were the darkest days. So that's why they weren't wanted that much. Even though the gummy bears were the very first gummy ever made the gummy worm was and is the most popular gummy.

Resources

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G1EMg41uM3U/TKFQGyGdrTI/AAAAAAAAAMU/u1on1dXLxvg/s1600/Gummy+worms+package.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gummi_bear

http://www.candywarehouse.com/gummiworms.html

http://inventors.about.com/od/gstartinventions/a/gummi.htm

About the Author

Hi my name is Casey Dalton I am a high school senior and I go to Billings Senior High. I love to play basketball and football. I have always to know how gummy worms were made or how they look the way they do.