Why do apples turn brown?
A cut apple turns brown because air touches the inside and changes it.
Pip’s answer
- A cut apple turns brown because air touches the inside and changes it.
- Inside the apple are tiny helpers that mix with air from outside.
- When they mix, they make a brown color, a bit like a suntan! Hehe!
- Ooh, a little lemon juice can keep a cut apple bright longer!
For grown-ups
Cutting an apple exposes enzymes in its cells to oxygen in the air. An enzyme called polyphenol oxidase reacts with natural compounds in the apple, producing brown pigments. Lemon juice slows browning because its acid and vitamin C interfere with the reaction.
Ask your child: Shall we test which apple slice stays brightest: plain or with lemon?
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- 🧲Why do magnets stick?
- 🫧Why are bubbles round?
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