Video Transcript
Cola, lemon juice, and vinegar all
have sour tastes. Which type of substance causes
sourness when present in food and drinks?
Cola, lemon juice, and vinegar all
have sour tastes, but the sourness is not due to the same compound. The sourness in cola is due to a
substance called carbonic acid. Lemon juice is sour because of a
chemical called citric acid. And vinegar tastes sour because of
a compound called acetic acid. While these chemicals aren’t
exactly the same, they’re all from the same class of substances called acids.
An acid is a substance that
dissociates in water to produce positive hydrogen ions. Acids are characterized by their
sour taste. Other examples of foods and drinks
that contain acids are yogurt, coffee, and blueberries.
In conclusion, the type of
substance that causes sourness when present in food and drinks is an acid.
