• Xylitol is generally considered safe for human consumption and is frequently used in sugar free gum; however, it is extremely toxic to dogs.
• In this laboratory experiment, upper-level undergraduate chemistry students extract xylitol from both fresh and chewed gum sticks followed by direct aqueous injection GC-MS analysis.
• Students learn the proper steps and techniques required for sample extraction and preparation, GC-MS analysis, and determine concentrations of xylitol present in gum samples. Identification
• Upon quantification of xylitol in chewed and unchewed gum samples, students are able to calculate the level of hazard for dogs upon ingestion.
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Rajapaksha SM, Samarasekara D, Brown JC, Howard L, Gerken K, Archer T, Lathan P, Mlsna T, Mlsna D. Determination of Xylitol in Sugar-Free Gum by GC–MS with Direct Aqueous Injection: A Laboratory Experiment for Chemistry Students. Journal of Chemical Education. 2018 Sep 27.
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