We wish you a very Happy Halloween with this science-related quiz.
What is the word Halloween an abbreviation of?
All Hallow’s Eve
In which country did Halloween originate?
Ireland
From which region in the world do pumpkins originate?
Central America
Do pumpkins grow on stalks, trees, vines, or bushes?
On vines
What is a pumpkin mainly made of?
90 % water
What makes pumpkins orange?
Carotenoid pigments such as β-carotene
Which compound in Halloween chocolates is similar to caffeine?
Theobromine, named after Theobroma, the genus of the cacao tree (Greek for “food of the gods”).
Theobromine was formerly known as xantheose. It is a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant and is also found in some other foods, including the leaves of the tea plant, and the kola nut. Caffeine differs from theobromine in that it has an extra methyl group.
Why is human blood red?
Because of the protein hemoglobin. It contains the red compound heme that is crucial for carrying oxygen through your bloodstream
How long does it take for an individual blood cell to go round your whole body?
20 seconds
Are there animals with blood colors such as green, blue, purple?
Yes. They use different oxygen-carrying proteins.
Green blood is found in some species of worms and leeches. They use chlorocruorin to transport oxygen
Blue blood is found in crustaceans, spiders, squid, octopuses, and some molluscs. They use hemocyanin to transport oxygen
Violet blood is found in a few marine worms (peanut worms, penis worms, brachiopods). They use hemerythrin to transport oxygen
Also of Interest
-
- More Halloween-related articles
- Chocolate – The Noblest Polymorphism
Chocolate is a cultural asset of mankind. Klaus Roth proves, once again, only chemistry can produce such a celestial pleasure.
