Question

Study the effect of potassium bisulphite as food preservative under various conditions (temperature, concentration, time etc.)

Answer 1

Hint: To study the effect of Potassium bisulphite, we will have to perform a simple experiment, observe and carefully note our findings. We should first remember that Potassium bisulphite is one of the most popularly used food preservatives in different concentrations and temperatures.

Complete step by step answer:
Food materials may undergo decomposition due to temperature, time and enzymatic action and become unfit for consumption. These changes have to be checked by adding small amounts of potassium bisulphite. This would determine the effectiveness of potassium bisulphite as a preservative and show how it is dependent upon its concentration under different conditions which may be determined experimentally.

We can make a jam at home by crushing some fresh fruits and adding sugar and a little color to it. We may now divide them into various setups and observe them.

To determine the effect of concentration of potassium bisulphite:
Add 5g, 10g and 15g of potassium bisulphite to three samples but same amount of other substances to each. Leave this setup for about a week and then observe.
We will notice that the increase in concentration of potassium bisulphite means it is preserved for a longer time.

To determine the effect of temperature:
Add 100g of the jam, 5g of sugar and 10g of potassium bisulphite to each bottle but keep them at different temperatures. The first is kept at zero degrees, the second at room temperature and the third at fifty degree Celsius.
It is observed that the increase in Temperature causes fast fermentation of jam.

To determine the effect of time:
Add 100g of the jam, 5g of sugar and 10g of potassium bisulphite to each bottle but keep them for different duration.
We will notice that with the increase of days, the quality of the jam deteriorates.
Hence, we reach the conclusion that food containing more amount of sugar is not favorable to keep for a long time although Potassium bisulphite is a good preservative.

Note: Potassium bisulphite is primarily a commercial preservative. We might find this chemical compound at meat processing plants. Manufacturers of juice drinks and concentrate will use potassium bisulphite to increase the shelf life of their products.