Essay --

Food related projects are super interesting, projects that have to do with seeing changes when you add different substances and how it affects the outcome. Last year, I did a project on how acids affect the rate of corrosion of steel wool. This year, my focus was food, especially baking. My research resulted in projects involving different amounts of baking soda and their affect on cake texture, or how chips lose their crunch. Then, an idea stood out to me: what makes gelatin and gels so strong. I wondered, what is in gels that make it strong and easy to form a shape. That led me to forming my question: What sorts of substances make gelatin the strongest? Hypothesis: If different substances are added to gelatin, then it is expected that the citric acid would make the gelatin strongest because it is found in gelatin treats like sour gummy worms, which have a strong texture. Goals: †¢ Find a substance which makes the gel strongest. †¢ See what substance weakens the gel. †¢ Find out what can make a gel go from strong and firm to a jelly-like consistency. †¢ Determine if the pH has anything to do with the gel being strong. †¢ See whether or the not the substance being a solid or liquid affects how strong the gel becomes. †¢ Find what substance can make the gel to shake. Background Information/Review of Literature: The Egyptians first used gelatin, they found gelatin in the Pharaoh's tomb in the form of glue. In 1682, Denis Papin, a Frenchman, took out tissue from animal bones and boiled it. He created a pure protein. In 1753, an Englishman made the first gelatin, and from then on, it got manufactured and became an industry. Gelatin is something that we eat a lot in our lives. Foods that contain gelatin are Jell-O, gummy bear... ... †¢ Use different substances like detergent, soap, egg whites, or cheese. †¢ Do the experiment under the sun and see which is strongest. †¢ Use sweetened gelatin instead of unsweetened. Different Experiments- †¢ How does temperature affect gels to become strong? †¢ How do bananas, apples, and grapes affect how strong gels will become? †¢ How do different amounts of gelatin affect how strong it becomes? †¢ Does pH affect how strong a gel is? Acknowledgements: †¢ I would like to thank Ms. Simmons who helped me step by step for the Science Fair. She guided me through all the work necessary to make a good project. She reviewed my Research Paper to make sure it met all of the criteria and check for any mistakes. †¢ I would like to thank my mom and dad who got me all the supplies and helped me make my project possible. When I needed help, they were always there to motivate me.