Question

Nitric acid is used to detect adulteration in which of these food items?

• A. Skimmed milk
• B. Ghee
• C. Beverages
• D. Mustard oil

Answer 1

The correct option is D Mustard oil

Adulteration is a process of mixing undesirable and inferior materials in food. The material or substance which is added to food is called as adulterants. Adulterated food is impure, unsafe, or unwholesome food. Mustard oil is mostly adulterated with argemone oil. To detect the argemone oil in mustard oil, concentrated nitric acid is used. If the red or reddish brown colour appears in the acid layer, then it is adulterated with argemone oil.

Thus, the correct answer is option D.