Question:

Rancidity of oil is detected by:

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Peroxide value is an indicator of the early stages of oxidation in oils. A higher peroxide value signifies that the oil is more likely to be rancid.
Updated On: Jul 14, 2026
  • Saponification value
  • Iodine value
  • Peroxide value
  • Acid value
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The Correct Option is C

Approach Solution - 1

Peroxide value is used to detect rancidity in oils. It measures the amount of peroxides (primary oxidation products) present in the oil, which are formed during the oxidation process. The higher the peroxide value, the greater the extent of rancidity in the oil.

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Approach Solution -2

Rancidity in oils is mainly caused by oxidation of the unsaturated fatty acid chains. The question asks which official test value is used to pick this up. Let's look at what each of these values actually measures.

  1. Saponification value: This value tells us the average molecular weight of the fatty acids present in the oil, since it measures the amount of alkali needed to hydrolyse the fats into soap. It says nothing about oxidation or spoilage.
  2. Iodine value: This measures the degree of unsaturation in the oil by finding how much iodine adds across the double bonds. A higher iodine value tells you the oil has more double bonds and is therefore more prone to going rancid in the future, but it does not tell you whether rancidity has already started.
  3. Peroxide value: When unsaturated fats oxidise, the double bonds react with oxygen to form peroxides as the first, primary products of oxidation. The peroxide value directly measures the amount of these peroxides present, so it rises as soon as oxidative rancidity begins, which is exactly why it is used to detect early rancidity.
  4. Acid value: This measures the amount of free fatty acids in the oil, which usually come from hydrolysis of the triglycerides (often through moisture and lipase action) rather than from oxidative rancidity specifically.

Since peroxides are the direct, primary products formed as an oil turns rancid through oxidation, measuring them is the standard way of detecting rancidity.

Therefore, the correct answer is Peroxide value.

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