Lecture

The Chemistry of Strawberries: Organic Compounds Explained

Graph Chat

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.

In course

CH-120: Advanced general chemistry II

Acquisition des notions fondamentales liées à la réactivité des molécules organiques, identification de la structure de petites molécules organiques au moyen des techniques de spectrométrie de masse, spectroscopie infra-rouge et résonance magnétique nucléa ...

Description

This lecture delves into the significance of organic chemistry in everyday life, particularly focusing on strawberries. It begins by discussing the importance of organic compounds, highlighting the key molecules responsible for the aroma and sweetness of strawberries, such as furaneol and methoxyfuraneol. The instructor explains how these compounds increase in concentration as the fruit ripens, contributing to its characteristic scent. The lecture also covers the role of anthocyanins in providing color to strawberries, specifically mentioning pelargonidin 3-glucoside as the primary anthocyanin. Additionally, the discussion includes the biochemical processes involved in the ripening of strawberries, emphasizing the balance between sweetness and acidity, which is influenced by auxin hormones and citric acid. The lecture concludes with a brief overview of the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog rules for determining stereochemistry, which are essential for understanding the molecular structure of these compounds. Overall, the lecture provides a comprehensive insight into the chemistry behind one of the most popular fruits.

This video is available exclusively on Mediaspace for a restricted audience. Please log in to MediaSpace to access it if you have the necessary permissions.

Watch on Mediaspace

Instructors (2)

Luc Patiny

Expertise Cheminformatics, Data management, Data processing, Javascript developmentLast updated on April 16, 2023. Teaching & PhD Courses Advanced general chemistry II CH-120 Fundamental knowledge on the reactivity of organic compounds and their identification by mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. Basic and advanced NMR - Level 1 A (EPFL) CH-601(x) Basic theoretical and experimental aspects of NMR will be taught. Students will be familarized w

Jérôme Waser

Jérôme Waser biography and CV's are available on the following website: http://lcso.epfl.ch/waser

Official source

Related concepts (32)

Anthocyanin

Anthocyanins (), also called anthocyans, are water-soluble vacuolar pigments that, depending on their pH, may appear red, purple, blue, or black. In 1835, the German pharmacist Ludwig Clamor Marquart gave the name Anthokyan to a chemical compound that gives flowers a blue color for the first time in his treatise "Die Farben der Blüthen". Food plants rich in anthocyanins include the blueberry, raspberry, black rice, and black soybean, among many others that are red, blue, purple, or black.

Strawberry

The garden strawberry (or simply strawberry; Fragaria × ananassa) is a widely grown hybrid species of the genus Fragaria, collectively known as the strawberries, which are cultivated worldwide for their fruit. The fruit is widely appreciated for its characteristic aroma, bright red color, juicy texture, and sweetness. It is consumed in large quantities, either fresh or in such prepared foods as jam, juice, pies, ice cream, milkshakes, and chocolates.

Organic compound

In chemistry, many authors consider an organic compound to be any chemical compound that contains carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds, however, some authors consider an organic compound to be any chemical compound that contains carbon. The definition of "organic" versus "inorganic" varies from author to author, and is a topic of debate. For example, methane () is considered organic, but whether some other carbon-containing compounds are organic or inorganic varies from author to author, for example halides of carbon without carbon-hydrogen and carbon-carbon bonds (e.

Chemical compound

A chemical compound is a chemical substance composed of many identical molecules (or molecular entities) containing atoms from more than one chemical element held together by chemical bonds. A molecule consisting of atoms of only one element is therefore not a compound. A compound can be transformed into a different substance by a chemical reaction, which may involve interactions with other substances. In this process, bonds between atoms may be broken and/or new bonds formed.

Plant hormone

Plant hormones (or phytohormones) are signal molecules, produced within plants, that occur in extremely low concentrations. Plant hormones control all aspects of plant growth and development, from embryogenesis, the regulation of organ size, pathogen defense, stress tolerance and through to reproductive development. Unlike in animals (in which hormone production is restricted to specialized glands) each plant cell is capable of producing hormones. Went and Thimann coined the term "phytohormone" and used it in the title of their 1937 book.

Related lectures (64)

Chemistry of Elements: Silicon and Carbon

Explores the chemistry of silicon and carbon compounds, including conductivity differences, compound existence, carbon nanotubes history, and environmental impact of carbon dioxide.

The Chemistry of Strawberries: Aroma, Color, and Sweetness

Explores the compounds behind the aroma, color, and sweetness of strawberries, emphasizing the importance of organic chemistry in everyday compounds.

Citric Acid Cycle: Overview

Provides an in-depth exploration of the citric acid cycle, focusing on Acetyl-CoA production, oxidation, and regulation, as well as the process of fatty acid oxidation and transport.

Atomic Orbitals and Bonding

Explores atomic orbitals' principles and bonding concepts in chemistry.

LED, Light and Color