Determination of Vitamin C Concentration by Titration

Baku Engineering University

Department of Chemical Engineering

CHE 2/5

Lab partners:

Chingiz Abdullayev 170107005

Maryam Jabiyeva 170107007
Lamana Mammadova 170107011
Fatma Habibli 170107004
Aytan Aliyeva 170107001
Chinara Huseinli 170107026

Instructor: Sevinj Yagubova

Date performed: 23.05.2019

Date submitted: 26.05.2019

 Introduction
Purpose:

The goal of this experiment is to determine the amount of vitamin C in a sample by a

redox titration.

Background

What is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C, known chemically as ascorbic acid and L-ascorbic acid, is a vitamin found in
various foods and sold as a dietary supplement. The body requires vitamin C to form
and maintain bones, blood vessels, and skin. This is a water- soluble vitamin, one that
cannot be stored by body except in insignificant amounts. It must be replenished daily.
The history of vitamin C revolves around the history of the human disease scurvy,
probably the first human illness to be recognized as a deficiency disease. Its symptoms
include exhaustion, massive hemorrhaging of flesh and gums, general weakness and
diarrhea. Resultant death was common. Scurvy is a disease unique to guinea pigs,
various primates, and humans. All other animal species have an enzyme which
catalyzes the oxidation of L-gluconactone to L-
ascorbic acid, allowing them to synthesize Vitamin
C amounts adequate for metabolic needs.

Vitamin C can be determined in food by use of an

oxidation-reduction reaction. The redox reaction is
preferable to an acid-base titration because a
number of other species in juice can act as acids,
but relatively few interfere with the oxidation of ascorbic acid by iodine.

What is a redox titration?

Titration is a laboratory method that is used to determine the concentration or mass of a

substance (called the analyte) by measuring it against a standardized titrant. A solution
of known concentration, called the titrant, is added to a solution of the analyte until just
enough has been added to react with all of the analyte (the equivalence point). If the
reaction between the titrant and the analyte is a reduction- oxidation reaction, the
procedure is called a redox titration. This type of titration involves a redox indicator or a
potentiometer.
 Equipment needed

Burette and stand Pipette Measuring cylinder Volumetric cylinder Conical flask

Materials needed
Potassium iodate solution (0.002mol L -1)

Starch indicator solution

Potassium iodide solution (0.6mol L-1)

Dilute hydrochloric acid (1mol L-1)

Safety
Potassium iodate - Causes serious eye damage.

Wear eye protection. IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes.
Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. Get medical
advice/ attention.

Potassium iodide - Eye: May cause eye irritation.

Skin: May cause skin irritation. May cause skin sensitization, an allergic reaction,
which becomes evident upon re-exposure to this material.

Ingestion: May cause gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Inhalation: May cause respiratory tract irritation.

Chronic: Chronic exposure can lead to iodism characterized by salivation, nasal

discharge, sneezing, conjunctivitis, fever, laryngitis, bronchitis, stomatitis, and skin
rashes.

Hydrochloric acid - DANGER! Corrosive. Causes severe skin, eye, and digestive
tract burns. Harmful if swallowed. Mist or vapor extremely irritating to eyes and
respiratory tract.

Procedure
The goal of this laboratory exercise is to see the quantity of vitamin C in samples, such
as fruit juice. This experiment consists of two components.
The first step is to arrange the solutions. What matters is that we simply recognize the
concentration of the solutions and therefore the volumes that we use. First of all we add
20 mL of the sample solution into a 250 mL conical flask. Then we add 150 mL distilled
water, 5 mL potassium iodide, 5 mL hydrochloric acid and 1 mL of starch indicator
solution.

The next step is titrating. We quantify samples precisely the same as we have a
tendency to did our commonplace. Record the initial and final volume of iodine answer
needed to supply the color modification at the end. Firstly we add 25.00 milliliter of juice
sample to 125ml flask. Then we titrate till the termination is reached. And finally we add
iodine answer till we get a color that persists longer than 20 seconds.

Calculation:
Initial: V1(KIO3)=2.1mL

Final: V2(KIO3)=5.5mL→ V2 - V1 = 3.4mL

(we put more potassium iodate)

V t(KIO3)= 3.4mL
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑙
C(KIO3)= 0.002 ⇒ n = Vt x C =3.4mL x 0.002 =0.0068 x 10-3 mol
𝐿 𝐿

2IO3- + 10I- + 12H- ⇒ 6I2 + 6H2O

1mol(IO3-)---------3mol(I2)

0.0068mmol(IO3)-------Xmol (I) ⇒X=0.0204 x 10-3 mol(I)

Ascorbic acid + I2→ 2I- +dehydroascorbic

1mol (I)------1mol(C6H8O6)

0.0204mmol------Ymol(C6H8O6) ⇒Y=0.0204 x 10-3 mol

V=20mL(C6H8O6)
𝑛 0.0204𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑙
N=0.0204mmol ⇒ C=𝑉= =0.00102
20𝑚𝐿 𝐿

𝑔
Molar mass(C6H8O6)=176.12𝑚𝑜𝑙

𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑔 𝑔
C=0.00102 x 176.12𝑚𝑜𝑙 =0.1796𝐿
𝐿

𝑔
m=176.12𝑚𝑜𝑙 x 0.0204mmol=3.59x10-3g

Result:
In this experiment, our purpose was to determine Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). For
determination, we took orange juice as a fruit sample. Solution containing ascorbic acid
was titrated with an iodine solution in order to determine amount of ascorbic acid. when
the all the vitamin C is oxidized, iodine and triiodide will be present, which react with
starch to form a blue-black complex. The blue-black color is the endpoint of the titration.
We did some calculations and we obtained 3.59x10-3g ascorbic acid in orange juice.

Discussion
In this experiment, a little mistake can spoil everything. Some weaknesses could make
variances in our expected values lead to deviations. For example, we can find wrong values or
numbers and our answers can not be right. Also we must be careful with substances and
solutions. If some carelessness, we can damage our eyes, hands and other body parts. Namely
we must be attentive with all experiment.

First steps of determination quantity of Vitamin C in juice were not so dangerous, because we
did not use specially substances. We only used water and juice. Then we started to use solution
for clean and dry glass flask. After it we used KJO3 for detection Vitamin C in juice, so our juice
solution changed own color to dark and it said us that we had solute which we need for
determination. Finally, we can show out our reaction.

Conclusion:
In this laboratory exercise, we determined an amount of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in
orange juice. For determination, we took some steps and did some calculation. Finally,
after all experiments and calculations we obtained that in orange juice (which we took it
as a sample) has 3.59x10-3g Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).