Chemistry of Cooking

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 26.05.06

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Introduction
  2. Demographics
  3. Rationale
  4. Content
  5. Teaching Strategies
  6. Classroom Activities
  7. Appendix On Implementing District Standards
  8. Notes

Beyond Ranch: The Science of Mixtures and Solutions with Salad Dressing

Beth Sawyer

Published September 2026

Tools for this Unit:

Notes

[1] Virginia Department of Education, “Bellevue Elementary,” Virginia School Quality Profiles, accessed July 11, 2026, https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/schools/bellevue-elementary https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/schools/bellevue-elementary

[2] Institute of Food Technologists, Introduction to Food Science, accessed July 12, 2026, https://www.ift.org/career-development/learn-about-food-science

[3] Institute of Food Technologists, “Introduction to Food Science.”

[4] Institute of Food Technologists, “Introduction to Food Science.”

[5] Popović, E., et al. “How Primary Students Understand the Concepts of Mixtures and Solutions.” SCIENCE International Journal 4, no. 2 (2025): 1–6.

[6] Paul Flowers, Klaus Theopold, Richard Langley, and William R. Robinson, Chemistry 2e (Houston, TX: OpenStax, 2019), chap. 1, "Phases and Classification of Matter."

[7] Flowers et al., Chemistry 2e, chap. 1.

[8] Oregon Institute of Technology. “Solutions Chemistry.” CHE 201: General Chemistry I (Anthony and Clark), Unit 6: Common Chemical Reactions. LibreTexts Chemistry. Accessed July 12, 2026. https://chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Oregon_Institute_of_Technology/OIT%3A_CHE_201_-_General_Chemistry_I_(Anthony_and_Clark)/Unit_6%3A_Common_Chemical_Reactions/6.2%3A_Solutions_Chemistry

[9] Kilah, Nathan. “The Science of the Ideal Salad Dressing.” University of Tasmania, January 3, 2024. Accessed July 12, 2026. https://www.utas.edu.au/about/news-and-stories/articles/2024/the-science-of-the-ideal-salad-dressing

[10] J. Kenji López-Alt, The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2015), 773.

[11] Kilah, “The Science of the Ideal Salad Dressing.”

[12] López-Alt, The Food Lab, 774-775.

[13] López-Alt, The Food Lab, 780.

[14] American Chemical Society. “Conservation of Mass.” Inquiry in Action. Accessed July 11, 2026. https://www.acs.org/education/resources/k-8/inquiryinaction/fifth-grade/chapter-4/conservation-of-mass.html

[15] American Chemical Society, “Conservation of Mass.”

[16] López-Alt, The Food Lab, 773.

[17] López-Alt, The Food Lab, 773.

[18] Branch, Julie Krista. 2001. "Effect of Formulation and Particle Size on the Rheological Properties of Salad Dressing." Order No. 1407599, Michigan State University. https://yale.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/effect-formulation-particle-size-on-rheological/docview/220107975/se-2.

[19] M. Yin, M. Chen, T. Yanagisawa, R. Matsuoka, Y. Xi, N. Tao, and X. Wang, “Physical Properties, Chemical Composition, and Nutritional Evaluation of Common Salad Dressings,” Frontiers in Nutrition 9 (2022): Article 978648

[20] López-Alt, The Food Lab, 773.

[21] Field, Simon Quellen. Culinary Reactions: The Everyday Chemistry of Cooking. (Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2012) 100.

[22] Wolke, Robert L. What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained. (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2002), 116.

[23] National Center for Biotechnology Information. “Acetic Acid.” PubChem. Accessed July 10, 2026. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Acetic-acid

[24] M. Yin, M. Chen, T. Yanagisawa, R. Matsuoka, Y. Xi, N. Tao, and X. Wang, “Physical Properties, Chemical Composition, and Nutritional Evaluation of Common Salad Dressings”

[25] Wolke, Robert L. What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained, 115.

[26] Wolke, Robert L. What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained, 114-115.

[27]  Figure 1. The Chemistry of Vinegar Varieties. Created by Andy Brunning. Reproduced from Compound Interest, 2023, https://www.compoundchem.com/2023/02/20/vinegar/. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license.

[28] Field, Simon Quellen. Culinary Reactions: The Everyday Chemistry of Cooking, 79-80.

[29] Zych, Ariel. “Salad Dressing Science: Emulsion Lab.” Science Friday, August 15, 2014. Accessed July 6, 2026. https://www.sciencefriday.com/educational-resources/salad-dressing-science-emulsions/

[30] Zych, Ariel. “Salad Dressing Science: Emulsion Lab.”

[31] Fluegel, Susan M. “How Healthy Is Your Salad Dressing?” MooScience. Accessed July 12, 2026. https://mooscience.com/Healthy-Salad-Dressings.html

[32] Susie Burrell, “The Healthiest (and Unhealthiest) Salad Dressings, According to a Dietitian,” Heart Research Institute, accessed July 12, 2026, https://www.hri.org.au/health/your-health/nutrition/the-healthiest-and-unhealthiest-salad-dressings-according-to-a-dietitian.

[33] Burrell, “The Healthiest (and Unhealthiest) Salad Dressings.

[34] PBLWorks. “Gold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements.” Accessed June 22, 2026. https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl/gold-standard-project-design.

[35] Duran, Lena Ballone, and Emilio Duran. “The 5E Instructional Model: A Learning Cycle Approach for Inquiry-Based Science Teaching.” Science Education Review 3, no. 2 (2004): 49–58.

[36] Duran and Duran, “The 5E Instructional Model,” 51-53.

[37] Gassenheimer, Cathy. “Hattie Says Teacher Clarity Is One of the Top Learning Interventions. Here’s How It Works.” A+ Best Practices Center, October 31, 2019. Accessed July 12, 2026. https://aplusala.org/best-practices-center/2019/10/31/hattie-says-teacher-clarity-is-one-of-top-learning-interventions-heres-how-it-works/

[38] Gillies, Robyn M. “Using Cooperative Learning to Enhance Students’ Learning and Engagement during Inquiry-Based Science.” Education Sciences 13, no. 12 (2023): 1242. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13121242

[39] Virginia Department of Education. Grade Five Science Instructional Guide. Richmond, VA: Virginia Department of Education, 2025. Accessed July 12, 2026. https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/77040/639173912998970000

[40] Virginia Department of Education. Grade Five Science Instructional Guide.

Comments:

Add a Comment

Characters Left: 500