An antioxidant is a substance that delays, controls, or inhibits the oxidation process. When present in food, it protects the food from contamination. In the body, an antioxidant prevents cells from free radicals. High levels of free radicals can cause diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Glutathione, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, selenium, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin are some essential antioxidants.
| Definition: An antioxidant is a substance that delays, controls or inhibits the oxidation process. |
Antioxidants Chemistry Questions with Solutions
Q1. Which of the following is a rich source of antioxidants which fight disease?
(a) Tea
(b) Coffee
(c ) Water
(d) None of the above
Answer: (b) Coffee is a rich source of antioxidants which fight disease.
Q2. Antioxidants fight against
(a) Bacteria
(b) Viruses
(c ) Free radicals
(d) None of the above
Answer: (c ) Antioxidants fight against free radicals.
Q3. A compound that inhibits oxidation is known as
(a) Oxidising agent,
(b) Antioxidant
(c ) Reductant
(d) All of the above
Answer: (b) A compound that inhibits oxidation is known as an antioxidant.
Q4. Which element plays a significant role in human cell-mediated immunity and is also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent?
(a) Zinc
(b) Magnesium
(c ) Calcium
(d) None of the above
Answer: (a) Zinc plays a significant role in human cell-mediated immunity and is also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.
Q5. Which of the following is a naturally occurring antioxidant?
(a) Hydroquinone
(b) Vitamin E
(c ) Ascorbic acid
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) Hydroquinone, vitamin E, and ascorbic acid are naturally occurring antioxidants.
Q6. What is an antioxidant?
Answer: An antioxidant is a substance that delays, controls or inhibits the oxidation process. When present in food, it protects the food from contamination. In the body, an antioxidant prevents cells from free radicals. High levels of free radicals can cause diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Q7. Give some examples of antioxidants?
Answer: Glutathione, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, selenium, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin are some examples of antioxidants.
Q8. What are the benefits of consuming antioxidants?
Answer: An antioxidant is a substance that delays, controls or inhibits the oxidation process. There are a lot of health benefits of consuming antioxidants. A few of them are mentioned below.
1. Antioxidants react with highly reactive free radicals to form the corresponding compound and prevent diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
2. Antioxidant-rich diet protects our eyes and brain and supports healthy ageing.
3. Antioxidants prevent us from oxidative stress.
Q9. Is coffee an antioxidant?
Answer: Yes, coffee is a potent antioxidant. It minimises the risk of cavities and improves athletic performance. Coffee also improves mood swings and fights against type 2 diabetes, liver cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
Q10. Match the following.
| Column I | Column II |
| Sucralose | Antacid |
| Iodine | Food preservative |
| Sodium benzoate | Antiseptic |
| Ranitidine | Artificial sweetener |
| Food colours | Ascorbic acid |
| Antioxidants | Caramel |
Answer:
| Column I | Column II |
| Sucralose | Artificial sweetener |
| Iodine | Antiseptic |
| Sodium benzoate | Food preservative |
| Ranitidine | Antacid |
| Food colours | Caramel |
| Antioxidants | Ascorbic acid |
Q11. Draw the structure of any antioxidant.
Answer: BHT is an example of an antioxidant.
Structure of the BHT (An antioxidant)
Q12. Which of the following is an example of an antioxidant?
(a) Saccharin
(b) Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
(c ) Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
(d) Both (b) and (c )
Answer: (d) Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) are examples of antioxidants.
Q13. What is the role of potassium bisulphate?
Answer: Potassium bisulphate acts as a food preservative. It reacts with water to form sulfurous acid, which lowers the pH of the food, thereby hindering the growth of the viruses.
Q14. Explain the working of an antioxidant.
Answer: An antioxidant is a substance that delays, controls, or inhibits the cell’s oxidation process. It is used to neutralise the free radicals in our bodies. High levels of free radicals can cause diabetes, oxidative stress, heart disease, and cancer.
Q15. Is EDTA an antioxidant?
Answer: Yes, EDTA is an essential antioxidant. It helps in decreasing oxidative stress, DNA damage and lipid peroxidation.
Practise Questions on Antioxidants
Q1. What is oxidation?
Q2. What is free radical?
Q3. Which of the following is true about mould inhibition?
(a) The quantity of Sorbic acid required for mould inhibition is one third the amount of sodium benzoate required
(b) Propylene glycol and tri ethylene glycol have germicidal properties
(c ) Sorbic acid is used as a mould inhibitor in cheese
(d) All of the above
Q4. Which of the following is true about synergism?
(a) When two or more antioxidants combine, a more significant effect than a single antioxidant is produced. This is referred to as synergism
(b) The mechanism of synergism depends on the nature of the synergist, the antioxidant and the fat
(c ) Synergists do not have antioxidant properties alone
(d) All of the above
Q5. Which of the following is a naturally occurring antioxidant?
(a) Vitamin C
(b) Vitamin E
(c ) Hydroquinone
(d) All of the above
Click the PDF to check the answers for Practice Questions.
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