physical state of food ingredients in food system Flashcards
(109 cards)
What are the five types of food dispersions?
- True solution
- Colloidal dispersion
- Emulsion
- Foam
- Gel
Define a true solution.
A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances where the solute has a particle size of less than 10^-9 m (1 nm).
Give an example of a true solution.
Simple solution of sugar in water.
What is a colloidal dispersion?
A dispersion of particle sizes between 10-100 nm in liquid.
What is an emulsion?
A liquid dispersed in another liquid, typically consisting of two immiscible substances.
What are the two types of emulsions?
- Oil in water (O/W)
- Water in oil (W/O)
What is the role of an emulsifying agent?
To stabilize an emulsion and prevent the two immiscible liquid layers from separating.
Name two common emulsifiers.
- Lecithin (E322)
- Mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids (E471)
What is the difference between oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions?
- O/W: Water is the dispersion medium
- W/O: Oil is the dispersion medium
What is creaming in emulsions?
The phenomenon where droplets rise to the top of the emulsion due to buoyancy.
What is Stokes’ law?
It describes the movement of a small spherical globule during the creaming process.
What are the four types of instability in emulsions?
- Flocculation
- Creaming/sedimentation
- Coalescence
- Ostwald ripening
What is flocculation?
The formation of flocs when there is an attractive force between droplets.
What is coalescence?
When droplets combine to form a larger droplet, increasing the average droplet size.
What is sedimentation?
The settling of the dispersed phase towards the bottom of the emulsion.
What is the purpose of the dilution test?
To determine whether an emulsion is O/W or W/O based on solubility.
What does a positive electrical conductivity test indicate?
That the emulsion is an oil-in-water (O/W) type.
What is the Tyndall effect?
Light scattering by particles in a colloid or fine suspension.
What are emulsifiers classified as?
Surface-active agents or surfactants.
What is a foam?
A gas dispersed in a liquid or semi-liquid.
What factors affect foam stability?
- Surface tension
- Concentration of separate phase
- Presence of foaming agent
- Viscosity of liquid
- Presence and thickness of adsorption layer
What is a gel?
A semi-solid state with two continuous phases.
What is syneresis in gels?
The process of gels shrinking by losing some of the liquid held by them.
What are some desirable characteristics of food emulsifiers?
- Ability to reduce interfacial tension below 10 dynes/cm
- Rapid absorption at the interface
- Effective at low concentrations
- Resistance to chemical change
- Lack of odours, colour, and toxicity
- Economical