What sugar is used to prepare simple syrup?

• A. Fructose
• B. Maltose
• C. Glucose
• D. Sucrose

Answer: (D)

In preparing simple syrup, the sugar used is sucrose. This sugar dissolves readily in water to form a clear, viscous solution that remains stable over time, which is exactly what a syrup needs as a convenient vehicle in formulations. Sucrose is non-reducing, so it is less likely to react with drug substances or cause unwanted changes during storage. Other sugars like glucose, fructose, or maltose are reducing sugars and can behave differently in solution, potentially affecting sweetness, stability, or drug compatibility, which makes them less suitable as the standard syrup base. Thus, sucrose is the best and most traditional choice for simple syrup.