Potato chips are purposely packaged with extra space to act as a cushion and keep them from being crushed during handling. But it actually isn’t oxygen that is taking up so much space in the bags – it is nitrogen, the gas that makes up 78% of the air we breathe. Nitrogen remains stable around other chemicals, which makes it a useful preservative. On the other hand, oxygen reacts with nearby substances. If potato chip bags were filled with oxygen, the potatoes and the oil in the chips would end up becoming soggy from the humidity and they would eventually spoil.
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anon995521
Post 1 |
Oxygen and humidity are two totally different creatures. The real reason is, oxygen in a bag will oxidize the oil, making it rancid. |