Procedure
A. Making Alginate Caviar
1. Add about 2 grams of calcium chloride into a bowl and then add about 500 ml of water. Stir to
dissolve.
2. In another bowl containing about 2 grams of sodium alginate, add water or fruit juice and stir
to dissolve. This will create a thick, gel-like mixture
3. Fill the plastic syringe with the juice mixture above, then gently discharge the mixture to the
prepared calcium chloride solution drop by drop. We just made alginate caviar!
4. After a few seconds, gently remove the caviar and place them in a cold water bowl.
5. Remove from water, serve, and enjoy!
Follow-up discussion: What has actually happened?
Alginate (or alginic acid) is a natural polymer derived from the cell walls of brown
algae. It is commonly used in food products such as ketchup and ice cream to serve as a
thickening agent.
Alginate can dissolve (are soluble) in water.
Upon adding alginate mixture to the calcium solution, the calcium ions help create
cross links between alginate polymer chains, which then creates a gel layer, which is
insoluble in calcium solution, on the outside of the water or juice.