Pickling is an age-old method of preserving cucumbers by fermentation or using brine and vinegar.
Below is a simple flowchart for preparing cucumber pickles by brine fermentation method:
Selection of fresh cucumbers
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Washing and sorting
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Trimming ends and slicing if needed
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Preparation of brine solution (5–8% salt)
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Placing cucumbers in clean jars
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Pouring brine to cover cucumbers completely
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Covering jars with lids or cloth to allow fermentation
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Fermentation at room temperature for 2–4 weeks
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Checking for proper sourness and sealing jars
During fermentation, lactic acid bacteria convert sugars in cucumbers into lactic acid, which acts as a natural preservative.
This method enhances flavor, preserves texture, and extends shelf life.
Good hygiene and correct brine concentration are essential to avoid spoilage.
Match List-I with List-II
| List-I (Examples) | List-II (Type of processed foods) |
|---|---|
| (A) Pickles, jam, marmalade, squashes | (I) Functional foods |
| (B) Probiotics | (II) Formulated foods |
| (C) Frozen peas and frozen vegetables, canned fruits and vegetables | (III) Manufactured foods |
| (D) Bread, biscuits, ice cream | (IV) Preserved foods |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Standard electrode potential for \( \text{Sn}^{4+}/\text{Sn}^{2+} \) couple is +0.15 V and that for the \( \text{Cr}^{3+}/\text{Cr} \) couple is -0.74 V. The two couples in their standard states are connected to make a cell. The cell potential will be:
To calculate the cell potential (\( E^\circ_{\text{cell}} \)), we use the standard electrode potentials of the given redox couples.
Given data:
\( E^\circ_{\text{Sn}^{4+}/\text{Sn}^{2+}} = +0.15V \)
\( E^\circ_{\text{Cr}^{3+}/\text{Cr}} = -0.74V \)
A carpenter needs to make a wooden cuboidal box, closed from all sides, which has a square base and fixed volume. Since he is short of the paint required to paint the box on completion, he wants the surface area to be minimum.
On the basis of the above information, answer the following questions :
Find a relation between \( x \) and \( y \) such that the surface area \( S \) is minimum.