Chemistry of Taste Flashcards
What happens when food molecules dissolve in silva?
it activates taste simulators in the mouth
Does the brain interpret simulators that create taste?
yes
Where are taste buds located?
papillae
What are the 5 types of taste receptors?
salty, sweet, sour, umami, bitter
What kind of threshold do sweet and salty tastes have?
high
What kind of thresholds do sour tastes have?
low
What do taste cells release?
neurotransmitters
What is sour taste?
generally measures pH, Hydrogen ions
What is salty taste?
sodium and potassium ions, ions accentuate flavours
What is bitter taste?
cellular response to bitterness complex is relatively slow
What is sourness directly correlated to?
pH
What happens to pH as something is more acidic?
lower pH
What is the Arrenhius definition of an acid?
produces H+ ions in solution
H+ is synonymous with a proton
What is the Arrenhius definition of a base?
produces OH- in solution
What is a neutral pH?
7