Sahaya likes to eat banana cue during Rizal’s time together with her friend Ahmad. Can you name the components of mixtures used in making a banana cue?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Answer:
The components of mixtures used in making banana cue include:
- Banana (specifically saba banana) – a homogeneous natural mixture of nutrients like sugars, starch, fiber, and vitamins.
- Brown Sugar – a mixture containing molasses and sucrose.
- Cooking Oil – usually vegetable oil, a homogeneous mixture of triglycerides.
- Wooden Skewers – though not edible, used to hold the banana cue.
Explanation
Banana cue, a popular Filipino street food, is made by deep-frying saba bananas and coating them in caramelized brown sugar. The preparation process uses different mixtures, which are combinations of two or more substances that are not chemically bonded and can usually be separated physically.
First, the saba banana itself is a biological material and a natural homogeneous mixture. It consists of water, natural sugars like fructose and glucose, starch, fiber, and vitamins such as B6 and C. These components are evenly distributed throughout the fruit, making it a homogeneous mixture in a biological sense.
Brown sugar, on the other hand, is a heterogeneous mixture made from white sugar (sucrose) combined with molasses. It retains some moisture and has a sticky texture, and depending on the granularity and molasses content, it may appear more or less uniform.
The bananas are fried in cooking oil, typically vegetable oil, which is a homogeneous mixture of triglycerides (fats). It remains uniform in composition, especially when heated, though after repeated use, the oil may become a more complex heterogeneous mixture due to accumulated food particles and breakdown products.
During frying, the sugar melts and caramelizes, forming a coating around the banana. While the caramelization is a chemical change, the individual components (oil, sugar, and banana) are still considered mixtures before cooking.
Lastly, the finished banana cue is typically skewered on a wooden stick for serving. While not a chemical mixture, it plays a structural role.
Understanding these components helps clarify how everyday Filipino snacks like banana cue involve various types of mixtures that we often take for granted.
