Logo
Home Study Material Contact Search
AI Chat FREE
  1. sciences
  2. chemistry
  3. capsaicin is the compound that makes hot peppers s

Capsaicin is the compound that makes hot peppers spicy. This compound reversibly binds to the same...

90.2K

Verified Solution

Question

Chemistry

Capsaicin is the compound that makes hot peppers spicy. Thiscompound reversibly binds to the same protein that detects heat inour bodies. For that reason, when we eat spicy food we experience a“burning” sensation. The spice level in different types of peppersis measured in Scoville units. A Scoville unit refers to the numberof times a pepper extract has to be diluted in order for a panel ofpeople to no longer detect the heat. For example, a Jalapeño pepperranks about ~5000 units. This means that liquid extracted from aJalapeño must be diluted 5000 times before the heat is no longerdetectable to the palate.

The spiciest peppers known, such as the Carolina Reaper, haveabout 3 million Scoville units of heat. Imagine you watch a show onTV claiming that the Carolina Reaper pepper is 600 times spicierthan a Jalapeño (3 million divided by 5 thousand), since you knowthe thermodynamics of chemical equilibria, you can make a morenuanced assessment of that claim.

Explain why or why not the TV host above might or might not becorrect. Clearly state any assumptions and use equations ifnecessary.

Answer & Explanation Solved by verified expert
3.8 Ratings (559 Votes)
This question tries to test the concept behind dilution Let ustry to qualitatively analyze the scenario givenWe are told that hotness of a chilly is measured in terms ofScoville units Now the methodology adopted is diluting the chillyextract TILL everyone in a panel cant feel the heat of the chillyextract What this means is that the amount of capsaicin present inthe diluted solution is so low that the protein that binds tocapsaicin cant really bind to it at this low concentrationReactions can be qualitatively gauged by the amounts ofreactants in the solution If    See Answer
Get Answers to Unlimited Questions

Join us to gain access to millions of questions and expert answers. Enjoy exclusive benefits tailored just for you!

Membership Benefits:
  • Unlimited Question Access with detailed Answers
  • Zin AI - 3 Million Words
  • 10 Dall-E 3 Images
  • 20 Plot Generations
  • Conversation with Dialogue Memory
  • No Ads, Ever!
  • Access to Our Best AI Platform: Flex AI - Your personal assistant for all your inquiries!
Become a Member

Other questions asked by students

Q

We are evaluating a project that costs $103463, has a seven-year life, and has no salvage...

Finance
Q

Provide a chemical definitation of the following: 1- Equilibrium Constant 2- Le Chatelier princeiple. 3- Dynamic equilibrium

Chemistry
Q

  Explain the outcome of 3^4^5. In particular, what is the order of execution of the...

Advance Math
Q

(a) Let G be a finite abelian group and p prime with p | |...

Advance Math
Q

Hilt ww R R3 R ww www ww R4 R5 ww The figure shows a...

Physics
Q

Find the rectangular coordinates for the point whose polar coordinates are given 4 2 1...

Basic Math
Q

3. On November 12th, Nutritious Pet Food Company's board of directors declares a cash dividend...

Accounting
Q

Oak Creek Furniture Factory (OCFF), a custom furniture manufacturer, uses job order costing to track...

Accounting
Q

Sheffield Inc., a greeting card company, had the following statements prepared as of December 31,...

Accounting
Q

las ganancias totales de un trabajador estn representadas por E=100+ 10(24-L), donde E es la...

Accounting
Q

Ida Company produces a handcrafted musical instrument called a gamelan that is similar to a...

Accounting
Q

Bridgeport Company sells goods that cost $258,000 to record company for $352,600 on January 2,...

Accounting