Question

Give a test that can be used to differentiate chemically between butter and cooking oil.

Answer 1

Cooking oil, and the butter is considered to be in the category of fat. It is based on the types of fat, i.e. saturated, and unsaturated. Differentiate both butter, and cooking oil on the basis of the test including bromine.

Complete Solution :
Now, first let us know about the cooking oil, and the butter. As mentioned these are categorised under fats.
As we know, solid fat at the room temperature is a kind of saturated fat. Here, we have butter, i.e. a saturated fat.

- We have cooking oil: it is an unsaturated fat, or we can also say that the liquid fats at the room temperature are unsaturated fats.
Now, the above mentioned differentiation is based on the definition. But we have to consider the test to differentiate chemically.
Thus, the test named as Bromine water test is used to distinguish chemically.
- By the use of bromine water, the unsaturated fat containing compound will decolourise the bromine water, whereas no effect will be shown by the saturated compound.
- So, here we can say that butter oil will not show any effect, whereas the unsaturated fat will decolourise the water.
- In the last, we can conclude that the bromine water test is used to distinguish between the saturated fats, and the unsaturated fats.

Note: It is important to know that unsaturated fats play a major role in our diet. They reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol, reduce inflammation and build stronger cell membranes. On the other hand, saturated fats increase the probability of cardiovascular diseases. Saturated fats are often termed as trans-fat on packaged foods.