Question

Oily and fatty food items are flushed with nitrogen gas because of which one of the following reasons?

• A. Nitrogen reacts with oils and fats and thus prevents oxidation.
• B. Nitrogen is inert and prevents a direct contact of air with oily and fatty food items.
• C. Nitrogen helps in the decomposition of food items and makes them tasty
• D. The given statement is wrong.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Nitrogen is inert and prevents a direct contact of air with oily and fatty food items.

The nitrogen ${\mathrm{N}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$ molecule has a triple bond between the two nitrogen atoms. It requires more amount of energy to break this triple bond. So under normal conditions, Nitrogen gas has inert nature and it will not react with other substances easily.

When food items are flushed with nitrogen gas, they do not undergo a reaction. It protects the food items from getting rancid.

Thus, this helps in preserving the food items.

Thus, option B is correct.

Oily and fatty food items are flushed with nitrogen gas because nitrogen is inert and prevents direct contact of air with oily and fatty food items.