Fatty foods become rancid because of which one of the following?
Oxidation
Explanation for correct answer
A. Oxidation is the addition of oxygen to an atom or a compound.
Food items, when exposed to air, react with oxygen to become rancid. The reactions with oxygen are usually called oxidation.
Explanation for incorrect answer
B. Reduction is the removal of oxygen from the compound but foods become rancid when oxygen present in the air gets added. So, option B is incorrect.
C. Hydrogenation is the addition of hydrogen to the compounds. Rancidity relates to the addition of oxygen atoms so, option C is incorrect.
D. Corrosion is the reaction of metals in the presence of air or moisture. Corrosion deals with metals only and does not relate to fatty foods. So, option D is incorrect.
So, fatty foods only become rancid due to the oxidation process only.
Hence, the correct option is A. Fatty foods become rancid because of oxidation.