Cows Milk

[ll_billym]

Can it be expressed as a chemical formula?

[j2buttonsw]

No as it is a complex mixture (actually an emulsion) of fats, sugars, proteins and water (plus loads of other stuff). Cow milk is about 87% water so you could say it is H20 based on the most common component...

[Peter Pedant]

I asked one of my teachers this in 1961 - stupid old bat - and her answer certainly wasnt Buttons's. The more's the pity, it is easily the best definition in five lines.

[ll_billym]

It certainly is, well done j2buttonsw.

[j2buttonsw]

Thanks, actually I was thinking about this and if you knew the exact elemental composition of cow's milk you could create an empirical formula for it. Does this count? see here http://www.towson.edu/~ladon/empiric.html Don't be taking my stars away!

[ll_billym]

Well reading the link it does seem that you could write an empirical or molecular formula for one particular  helping of cows milk by taking each unique substance in it and doing the math.  I'll let you keep the stars though, if only for knowing that cows milk is an emulsion, damn nice word that!!

My original question arose from wondering if it was possible to synthesise it, it's funny what you think of sometimes isn't it?