INTRODUCTION

Ascorbic acid - as vitamin C

water soluble vitamin.
vitamins are a group of small molecular compounds that are essential
nutrients in many multi-cellular organisms, and humans in particular.

SOME FACTS!
ascorbic acid is acidic in nature
white crystalline substance
Ascorbic acid also have two possible enantiomers – the L and the D
form.
The D form of ascorbic acid is generally inactive as anti-scorbutic
agents and naturally occurring ascorbic acid occurs in L form.
The vitamin exists in the body largely in the reduced form with
reversible equilibrium with a relatively small amount of dehydro
ascorbic acid. Both forms are physiologically and metabolically
active.
Functions
Vitamin C is easily oxidized,
Vitamin C may also play a role in detoxifying byproducts of
respiration.
Occasionally during respiration, O2 is incompletely reduced to
superoxide ion (O2 - ) instead of being reduced completely to its -2
oxidation state (as in H2O). Normally an enzyme called superoxide
dismutase converts O2- to H2O2 and O2, but in the presence of Fe2+,
the hydrogen peroxide may be converted into the highly-reactive
hydroxyl radical (OH.). The hydroxyl radical can initiate unwanted
and deleterious chemistry within a cell when it removes a hydrogen
atom (H) from an organic compound to form H 2O and a new,
potentially more reactive free radical. Ascorbic acid can donate a
hydrogen atom to a free radical, and thus stop these reactions from
occurring. The role of ascorbic acid as an antioxidant, therefore, is of
prime importance.
Deficiency: diseases due to vitamin C
Vitamin C deficiency in human’s results - scurvy,
whose symptoms include hemorrhaging (especially in the gums), joint
pain and exhaustion.
So then what are the rich dietary sources of vitamin C?
Dietary Sources of Vitamin C Fruits (particularly citrus fruits), Amla,
best sources of ascorbic acid.
 Let’s move to Lab now!

Safety Lab coats, safety glasses and enclosed footwear

must be worn at all times in the laboratory.
Introduction
This 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 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.
Equipment Needed
burette and stand
100 mL or 200 mL volumetric flask
20 mL pipette
10 mL and 100 mL measuring cylinders
250 mL conical flasks

Solutions Needed
Iodine solution: (0.005 mol L−1).