Cottonseed oil is identified by which test?

• A. Serger test
• B. Halphen test
• C. Baudoin test
• D. Saponification cloud test

Answer: (B)

Cottonseed oil can be identified by its unique constituent, a pigment called gossypol. The Baudouin test uses reagents that react with gossypol to produce a distinct color change, which serves as a reliable indicator that the sample is cottonseed oil. Other oils don’t contain this pigment in the same way, so they don’t give the same diagnostic color reaction in this test. The Serger, Halphen, and saponification cloud tests don’t target gossypol or provide this cottonseed-specific identification, so they aren’t the appropriate choice for confirming cottonseed oil.