INTRODUCTION

Vitamins are a group of small molecular compounds that are essential nutrients in
many multi-cellular organisms, and humans in particular. The name "vitamin" is a
contraction of “vital amine”, and came about because many of the first vitamins to be
discovered were members of this class of organic compounds. And although many of the
subsequently discovered vitamins were not amines, the name was retained.

Figure 1: Structure of Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)

The human body cannot produce ascorbic acid, and so it must be obtained entirely
through one’s diet. A vitamin C deficiency in human results in the disease called scurvy,
whose symptoms include hemorrhaging (especially in the gums), joint pain and exhaustion.
In its final stages scurvy is characterized by a profound exhaustion, diarrhea, and then
pulmonary and kidney failure, which result in death. A very small daily intake of vitamin C is
required to avoid deficiency and stave off scurvy.

The titration method determines the vitamin C concentration in a solution by a redox

titration using iodine. As the iodine is added during the titration, the ascorbic acid is oxidised
to dehydroascorbic acid, while the iodine is reduced to iodide ions.

ascorbic acid + I2 → 2 I−+ dehydroascorbic acid

Due to this reaction, the iodine formed is immediately reduced to iodide as long as
there is any ascorbic acid present. Once all the ascorbic acid has been oxidised, the excess
iodine is free to react with the starch indicator, forming the blue-black starch-iodine complex.
This is the endpoint of the titration.

OBJECTIVE

- To determine the ascorbic acid content in Ribena Strawberry.

 PROCEDURE

1. 0.5g of soluble starch was added to 50ml near-boiling distilled water. The mixture
was mixed well and was cool down before used.
2. 5g of potassium iodide (KI) and 0.268g potassium iodate (KIO3) were dissolved in
200ml of distilled water. Then, 30ml of 2 M sulphuric acid was added. The solution
was poured into a 500ml graduated cylinder and diluted with distilled water to a final
volume of 500ml. The solution was mixed and transferred to a 600ml beaker. The
beaker was labelled as iodine solution.
3. 0.25g of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) was dissolved in 100ml distilled water. The
solution was diluted with distilled water until 250ml in a volumetric flask. The flask
was labelled as Vitamin C standard solution.
4. For standardizing solution, 25ml of vitamin C standard solution was added to a 123ml
Erlenmeyer flask. 10 drops of 1% starch was added. The burette was rinsed with a
small volume of the iodine solution and then fills.
5. Initial volume was recorded. The solution was titrated until the endpoint is reached.
The solution was swirled until the sign of blue colour was seen.
6. The final volume of iodine solution was recorded. The final volume was minus with
the initial volume. The volume was recorded as required volume.
7. For sample titration, 25ml of sample was titrated to a 125ml Erlenmeyer flask. The
solution was titrated until it reached the endpoint. Iodine solution was added until blue
colour can be seen. The amount of Vitamin C in sample was calculated as follows;

0.25𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑐 𝑥 𝑔 𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑐 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒

=
𝑎 𝑚𝑙 𝑖𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏 𝑚𝑙 𝑖𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

a = volume used for vitamin c standard solution

b = volume used for sample titration

RESULTS

Sample Data REPLICATE 1 REPLICATE 2 REPLICATE 3

χg 0.1534g 0.1375g 0.2093g
Standard volume (L) 0.022L 0.02L 0.0215L
Sample volume (L) 0.0135L 0.011L 0.018L
Mean Standard 0.17
Standard Deviation 0.04
Standard

DISCUSSION

This experiment was held because it was to determine the ascorbic acid content in
Ribena Strawberry. Three replicate were prepared which was from a beverage called Ribena
Strawberry as the sample. Potassium iodide, potassium iodate, sulphuric acid and distilled
water were mixed and labelled as iodine solution. The iodine solution was used to titrate with
the sample and turned the sample colour into blue-black. This was due the reaction between
iodine and starch that exist inside the drink.

Based on the results, the χ g vitamin C of sample replicate 1, 2 and 3 were

0.1534g, 0.1375g, and 0.2093. The weights of ascorbic acid were constant for three replicates
which were 0.25g. The volume of iodine solution being used to titrating the sample for
replicate 1 until 3 were 0.0135L, 0.011L and 0.018L.For the standard solution, the volume
needed to titrate the solution until it changed colour were 0.022L, 0.02L and 0.0215L.

When all the results were finally recorded, the mean and the standard deviation of
the χ g vitamin C of sample were able to identify. The mean for the χ g vitamin C of sample
was 0.17 while the standard deviation was 0.04. The mean and the standard deviation for the
team that also use Ribena Strawberry as their sample were 0.19 and 0.01. The reason for the
differences of the mean and the standard deviation between our sample and them was because
the difference of the volume used for vitamin C standard solution and the volume used for
sample titration. The differences of the volume used for vitamin C standard solution and the
volume used for sample titration might affect the χ g.
 There was an error occurred during the experiment. The error happened during
the titration part. The droplets of the iodine solution need to be controlled but due to
unfocused mind, the droplets of iodine solution drops fast and turns the solution into black
colour solution.

CONCLUSION

Vitamin c is really important towards human health. So to identify it exist in food

and drinks, an experiment is being held. Titration method was choose for this experiment
method. By comparing the mean and the standard deviation with the other group, the
difference of the concentration of vitamin C can be seen from it. Also, the changes of colour
when the iodine solution titrate with sample solution and standard solution indicates whether
the vitamin exist or not.

REFFERENCES

- Townsend, Chet. (1999). Vitamin C and Citrus Juices.

http://www.ultimatecitrus.com/vitaminc.html. (08.38pm, 20.11.2014)
- Silverstein, Dr. Alvin, Virginia and Robert. (1992). Vitamins and Minerals.
Brookfield, Connecticut: The Millbrook Press.
- General Health Encyclopedia. (1998). Vitamin C.
http://www.healthcentral.com/mhc/top/0002404.cfm. (11.32pm, 20.11.2014)