Question 1

What happens when water boils?

Accepted Answer

When water boils, it gets so hot that it turns into steam or water vapor. This is because the heat makes the water molecules move really fast and escape into the air.

Question 2

Why do onions make you cry?

Accepted Answer

Onions have special chemicals that come out when you cut them. These chemicals turn into a gas that can make your eyes sting and water, causing you to cry.

Question 3

Why does bread rise when you bake it?

Accepted Answer

Bread rises because of yeast, a tiny living thing that eats the sugar in the dough and creates little bubbles of gas. These bubbles make the dough puff up and turn into fluffy bread.

Question 4

Why does chocolate melt in your hand?

Accepted Answer

Chocolate melts because it's made of fats that become liquid at body temperature. So when you hold it, the heat from your hand makes it melt.

Question 5

What makes popcorn pop?

Accepted Answer

Inside each popcorn kernel, there's a bit of water. When it gets super hot, the water turns to steam and builds up pressure until the kernel bursts open, turning inside out into fluffy popcorn.

Question 6

Why do apples turn brown after cutting?

Accepted Answer

When you cut an apple, you break its cells and let air in. The air reacts with natural chemicals in the apple, turning it brown.

Question 7

How does cooking with lemon juice change food?

Accepted Answer

Lemon juice is acidic, which can change the texture and flavor of food. It can make some foods softer and give them a brighter, tangy taste.

Question 8

Why do eggs become solid when cooked?

Accepted Answer

Eggs have proteins that are long, twisted strands. When you cook them, heat untangles the strands and makes them stick together, turning the egg from liquid into a solid.

Question 9

Why does bread get stale?

Accepted Answer

Over time, water in the bread moves out and the starch in it changes shape, making bread hard. This is why old bread gets stale and tough.

Question 10

What does salt do to food?

Accepted Answer

Salt makes food taste better by bringing out its natural flavors. It can also preserve food and keep it from spoiling.

Question 11

Why do we marinate meat?

Accepted Answer

Marinating meat means soaking it in a mix of flavorful liquids. This helps add taste and can make the meat much more tender and juicy.

Question 12

Why do milk and lemon juice curdle together?

Accepted Answer

Milk has proteins that stick together when an acid like lemon juice is added. This makes the milk separate into clumps and a watery part, which we call curdling.

Question 13

Why do noodles soften in boiling water?

Accepted Answer

Noodles are made of starches that absorb water. When boiled, they suck up water and swell, becoming soft and ready to eat.

Question 14

How do pickles keep from spoiling?

Accepted Answer

Pickles are kept in salty, vinegary liquids that stop bad bacteria from growing. This keeps them fresh and tasty for a long time.

Question 15

Why do cakes rise and get fluffy?

Accepted Answer

Cakes rise and become fluffy because of tiny bubbles of gas trapped in the batter. Baking powder or baking soda creates these bubbles when heated, making the cake puff up.

Question 16

Why does butter melt but not burn quickly?

Accepted Answer

Butter melts easily because it's mostly fat. But it doesn't burn right away because it also has some water in it, which keeps it from getting too hot too fast.

Question 17

What does vinegar do in salad dressing?

Accepted Answer

Vinegar gives salad dressing a tart, tangy taste. It also helps mix the dressing together by breaking down oils and spices.

Question 18

Why do cookies harden when they cool down?

Accepted Answer

When cookies cool down, the melted sugar and fat in them become solid again, making the cookies hard. That's why fresh, warm cookies are often softer.

Question 19

How does sugar dissolve in water?

Accepted Answer

Sugar molecules are attracted to water molecules, so when you stir sugar into water, they mix together and the sugar seems to disappear. It's still there, but it's spread out in the water.

Question 20

Why does frying make food crispy?

Accepted Answer

Frying food in hot oil removes water from the outside of the food and creates a golden, crunchy crust. The hot oil cooks the food quickly, making it crispy.

The Chemistry of Cooking - 20 FAQs Explained Simply