Final answer:
In order to be tasted, chemicals must first be dissolved in saliva, a watery fluid in the mouth.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to be tasted, a chemical must first be dissolved in saliva, a watery fluid surrounding the taste buds that is released from specialized glands in the mouth. Molecules from the food and beverages we consume dissolve in our saliva and interact with taste receptors on our tongue and in our mouth and throat. Taste buds are formed by groupings of taste receptor cells with hair-like extensions that protrude into the central pore of the taste bud.