User:Varshini Koduri/sandbox

=                                 CHEMISTRY IN EVERY DAY LIFE = The principles of chemistry have been used for the benefit of mankind. Chemistry has influenced our life so much that we do not even realize that we come across chemicals at every moment.The basic principles of chemistry influences every sphere of human life.If we think of cleanliness- the materials like soaps, detergents,household bleaches,tooth pastes,etc., all are made up of chemicals.And if we consider clothes, then clothes are made up of fibers( natural and synthetic) which are of chemicals and different colors for clothes are also of chemicals.If we think of food materials-again a number of chemicals are involved.And if we look into the medicines, again they are made of chemicals.Not only these, the materials like explosives, fuels, rocket propellants, buildings and other electronic materials etc., all are chemicals.

Here let us discuss the application of chemistry in the most interesting area - FOOD MATERIALS and especially  FOOD COLORS.

CHEMICALS IN FOOD
Mainly chemicals are added to food for the following reasons: Food additives are of different categories. Main categories of food additives are :
 * their preservation
 * enhancing their appeal
 * adding nutritive values in them.
 * Food colors
 * Flavors and sweeteners
 * Fat emulsifiers and stabilizing agents
 * Flour improvers-anti staling agents and bleaches
 * Anti oxidants
 * Preservatives
 * Nutritional supplements such as minerals, vitamins and amino acids.

Here we will discuss only about the first category of food additive i.e., Food colors..

FOOD COLORS
Food color or color additive is any dye, pigment or any substance that imparts color when it is added to food or drink. They come in many forms consisting of liquids, powder, gels and pastes. Food coloring is used both in commercial food production and in domestic cooking.

People associate certain colors with certain flavors, and the color of food can influence the perceived flavors in any food. This is why FOOD COLORS are needed.Though this is not the only use but an important use of food colors. Color additives are used in foods for many reasons:
 * to make food more attractive, appealing, appetizing and informative.
 * to correct natural variations in color
 * to enhance colors that occur naturally
 * to provide color to colorless foods and to fun foods
 * to offset color loss due to exposure to moisture and storage conditions.

TYPES OF FOOD COLORS
Food colors are of two types:
 * Natural food colors
 * Artificial food colors