Capsaicin: The Chemical Behind the Burn

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This printable chemistry worksheet guides high-school students through a reading on capsaicin and explains why spicy foods feel hot in the mouth. Students answer comprehension questions, identify whether water, capsaicin, and milk are polar or nonpolar, and explain why milk works better than water to relieve the burn. Useful for chemistry or biology units on molecular polarity, properties of matter, or sensory science.