Science · Class 6
Components of Food
Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and balanced diet.
4 sections15–25 min read6 MCQs · 2 examples
Chapter Overview
A balanced diet provides all nutrients in the right proportions for age, gender, and activity level.
Food contains nutrients — carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals — plus dietary fibre and water. This chapter covers tests for nutrients, balanced diet, and deficiency diseases.
Major Nutrients
- Carbohydrates: energy (rice, wheat, potato)
- Proteins: growth and repair (pulses, milk, eggs, meat)
- Fats: energy storage, insulation (ghee, oil, nuts)
- Vitamins & minerals: small amounts, vital for health
Tests for Nutrients
- Starch: iodine solution → blue-black colour
- Protein: copper sulphate + caustic soda → violet colour
- Fats: grease spot on paper / translucent patch
Deficiency Diseases
- Vitamin A — night blindness
- Vitamin B₁ — beriberi
- Vitamin C — scurvy
- Vitamin D — rickets
- Iron — anaemia
- Iodine — goitre
Solved Examples
Step-by-step solutions — read each step before checking the final answer.
Starch test
A student adds iodine to boiled rice water. What is observed?
- 1Rice contains starch
- 2Iodine reacts with starch
- 3Solution turns blue-black
Answer
Blue-black colour confirms starch
Balanced diet
Why should a growing child eat pulses and milk daily?
- 1Growing children need proteins for growth
- 2Pulses and milk are rich protein sources
- 3Also provide calcium for bones
Answer
For growth, repair, and strong bones
Key Points to Remember
- ✓ Roughage (fibre) aids digestion but is not a nutrient
- ✓ Water is essential for all body processes
- ✓ Overeating one nutrient does not compensate for others
Exam Tips
- • Memorise nutrient tests and colour changes
- • Match each vitamin/mineral to its deficiency disease
- • List components of a balanced diet for your age group
Practice MCQs — Components of Food
Test your understanding with topic-wise multiple choice questions. Explanations appear after each answer.
Question 1 of 6Score: 0/0
Iodine solution tests for: