ScienceJuly 16, 2026
caramelization
/ˌkærəməlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
Definition
The chemical process of heating sugar or sugar-like substances to create a thick, stable, and viscous medium.
Etymology
Derived from the French 'caramel,' likely originating from the Portuguese 'caramelo' (icicle) or a mix of Latin 'canna' (cane) and 'mellis' (honey). The '-ization' suffix was added to describe the process of transforming a substance into this state.
In the news
In this article, researchers used a process involving caramelization to create a stable, sugar-based 'goo' to hold and transport radioactive radium, allowing them to manipulate the element safely.
Cold radioactive molecules prepped and readied for physics discoveries
Read the full article ↗EurekAlert!