Food Chemistry

Halloween special: The chemistry of candy corn – in C&EN

Click to view the full graphic on the C&EN site

Confectioners produce around 9 billion pieces of candy corn every year, according to the US National Confectioners Association, with a significant chunk of this consumed by trick-or-treaters. In the latest edition of Periodic Graphics in C&EN, we look at what candy corn is made of and the chemistry behind its vibrant colours. View the full graphic on the C&EN site.

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Infographic on the chemistry of different types of vinegars. First, an overview of vinegar production is shown, explaining the fermentation of sugars and starches into ethanol, then the subsequent oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid. Six different varieties of vinegar are then explored: Distilled vinegar, balsamic vinegar, wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, malt vinegar, and rice vinegar. Chemical compounds of interest are highlighted for each, and also detailed in the post accompanying this image.

The sour science of vinegar varieties

Infographic on the chemistry of different types of vinegars. First, an overview of vinegar production is shown, explaining the fermentation of sugars and starches into ethanol, then the subsequent oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid. Six different varieties of vinegar are then explored: Distilled vinegar, balsamic vinegar, wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, malt vinegar, and rice vinegar. Chemical compounds of interest are highlighted for each, and also detailed in the post accompanying this image.
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The first vinegars were accidents of oxidation, wine left out too long which turned sour. The word vinegar even derives from the Latin for ‘sour wine’. Today, varieties of vinegar range from balsamic to rice vinegar, produced on a commercial basis. This graphic takes a look at some of the chemical quirks of the different types.

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