Almonds are recommended for good health. They not only tend to lower the blood pressure but also contain oils which prevent conorary heart disease responsible for heart attacks. But hemant, a class XII student, told his mother that some of the almonds are bitter in taste. these bitter almonds contain a poison and eating a few of these in one sitting may kill a child. After reading the above passage, answer the following questions: (i) Name the chemical present in bitter almonds an write its hydrolysis products. (ii) How does this chemical act as a poison? (iii) Write the uses of the other hydrolysis products. (iv) What values are displayed by hemant?

Almonds are recommended for good health. They not only tend to lower t

1.	Almonds are recommended for good health. They not only tend to lower the blood pressure but also contain oils which prevent conorary heart disease responsible for heart attacks. But hemant, a class XII student, told his mother that some of the almonds are bitter in taste. these bitter almonds contain a poison and eating a few of these in one sitting may kill a child. After reading the above passage, answer the following questions: (i) Name the chemical present in bitter almonds an write its hydrolysis products. (ii) How does this chemical act as a poison? (iii) Write the uses of the other hydrolysis products. (iv) What values are displayed by hemant?
Answer» SOLUTION :(i) Bitter ALMONDS contain the chemical amygdalin. It, on acid or enzymatic hydrolysis, gives benzaldehyde, glucose and hydrocyanic (HCN) acid. `underset("Amygdalin")(C_(20)H_(27)O_(11)N)+2H_(2)O underset("or Enzyme EMULSION")OVERSET(H^(+))tounderset("Benzaldehyde")(C_(6)H_(5)CHO)+underset("Glucose")(2C_(6)H_(12)O_(6))+HCN` (ii) HCN acts as a poison and kills the person in higher doses. (iii) The other hydrolysis products are glucose and benzaldehyde. Whereas glucose is used as a food but benzaldehyde is used as a flavouring agent in biscuit making and in perfume industry. (iv) Hemant has displayed health conscious values by emphasizing that all bitter things should be taken only after careful examination.