Fall

08

Lab 11: Determination of

Vitamin C Concentration by
Titration
Lab Section: 003
 Lab Section 3
Group 2

Introduction:

The purpose of this lab experiment was to determine the amount of vitamin C
concentration in orange juice, white grape juice, and a vitamin C tablet. Vitamin C,
or ascorbic acid is a very important water-soluble vitamin that is vital to normal
human growth and development. Unlike most mammals, humans are unable to
produce their own vitamin C, therefore the nutrient has to be ingested in the diet. 1
According to the National Academy of Sciences, they recommend a daily dose of
60mg of ascorbic acid per day.1 Sources of vitamin C can be found in many fruits and
vegetables such as broccoli, green and red peppers, cantaloupe, kiwi, mango, papaya,
citrus fruits, tomatoes and sweet potatoes. 2 However, vitamin C is destroyed when
cooked so the most reliable sources of vitamin C is the highest among citrus fruits. 1
Ascorbic acid can play a role in everything from mood changes, fat metabolism, to
tissue repair. More specifically, it assists in the formation of collagen,
norepinephrine, carnitine in fat metabolism, and bile acids. 1 In other functions,
ascorbic acid acts as an antioxidant that can protect indispensable molecules in the
body such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids from damage by free
radicals and reactive oxygen species. 1

When determining the amount of vitamin C contained in foods, this concentration

may be measured using a redox reaction. The redox reaction is the preferred
method over the 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.1 The redox reaction used in this experiment was one between iodine,
vitamin C, and starch. As long as vitamin C is present, the triiodide is quickly
converted to iodide ion, and no blue-black iodine-starch product is observed.
However, when all the vitamin C has been oxidized, the excess triiodide (in
equilibrium with iodine) reacts with starch to form the expected blue-black color. 1
As the iodine is added during the titration, the ascorbic acid is oxidized to 
dehydroascorbic acid, while the iodine is reduced to iodide ions.  Therefore, the endpoint 
of this titration is when all of the vitamin C has been oxidized, the excess iodine reacts 
with the starch indicator, and produces the final blue­black color.3 

Ascorbic acid + I2  2I­ + dehydroascorbic acid.3

Materials:

 burette and stand cylinders 
 100 mL or 200 mL volumetric   250 mL conical flasks
flask  Starch indicator solution: (0.5%)
 20 mL pipette  Iodine solution: (0.005 mol L−1)
 10 mL and 100 mL measuring 


 Lab Section 3
Group 2

 Methods:

 First, pipette a 10 mL aliquot of the sample solution into a 50 or 100 mL conical 
flask and add 0.5 mL (11 drops) of starch indicator solution.  Next, titrate the 
sample with 0.005 mol L−1 iodine solution. The endpoint of the titration is 
identified as the first permanent trace of a dark blue­‐black color due to the 
starch­‐iodine complex.  Finally, repeat the titration with further aliquots of 
sample solution until you obtain concordant results (titers agreeing within 0.1 
mL).

 Results:

 Table 1: Titration Results of Various Solutions
 Sample  Titration 1  Titration 2
Conc./L Conc./L
 Orange  0.0135  0.0115
Juice
 White  0.0105  0.0073
Grape Juice
 Vitamin C  0.0100  0.0100
Tablet

 Sample Calculations:

 Orange Juice Solutions:
 Titration 1: 38.5 – 25 = 13.5mL =0.0135 Titration 2: 50 – 38.5 = 11.5 mL =
0.0115

 C1 * V1 = C2 * V2
 C1 = 0.005mol  C2 = unknown
 V1 = titration amount  V2 = 10mL

 Orange Juice Solutions:
 (0.005mol)(0.0135L) = (x)  (0.005mol)(0.0115) = (x)
(0.010L) (0.010L)
 (x) = 0.00675mol/L  (x) = 0.00575ml/L

 White Grape Juice Solutions:
 (0.005mol)(0.0105L) = (x)  (0.005mol)(0.0073) = (x)
(0.010L) (0.010L)
 (x) = 0.00525  (x) = 0.00365
 Lab Section 3
Group 2


 Vitamin C Solutions:
 (0.005mol)(0.0058L) = (x)  (0.005mol)(0.0057L) = (x)
(0.010L) (0.010L)
 (x) = 0.0029  (x) = 0.00285



 Calculations

1. Calculate the average volume of iodine solution used from your concordant 
titers.

 .00135 + .00115 + .00675 + .00575 + .00525 + .00365 + .0029 + .00285  =   
0.0105L

                                                            6

2. Calculate the moles of iodine reacting.

 0.0105L x 126.9mol/L  = 1.33mol iodine/L

 3. Calculate the concentration in mol/L of ascorbic acid in the solution 
obtained from fruit/vegetable/juice. [C1V1 = C2V2]

 C1 * V1 = C2 * V2
 C1 = 0.005mol
 V1 = titration amount
 C2 = unknown
 V2 = 10mL

 Orange Juice Solutions:
 (0.005mol)(0.0135L) = (x)  (0.005mol)(0.0115) = (x)
(0.010L) (0.010L)
 (x) = 0.00675mol/L  (x) = 0.00575ml/L

 White Grape Juice Solutions:
 (0.005mol)(0.0105L) = (x)  (0.005mol)(0.0073) = (x)
(0.010L) (0.010L)
 (x) = 0.00525  (x) = 0.00365

 Vitamin C Solutions:
 (0.005mol)(0.0058L) = (x)  (x) = 0.0029
(0.010L)
 Lab Section 3
Group 2

 (0.005mol)(0.0057L) = (x)  (x) = 0.00285

(0.010L)


 4. Using the mol/L value for vitamin C in your sample, also, calculate the 
concentration, in g/1000mL or mg/ml of ascorbic acid in the sample of 
fruit/vegetable/ juice. MW of vitamin C = 176.12g. 

 Orange Juice: Average Concentration: 0.00625mol/L  g/1000mL

 0.00625mol/L * 176.12g/mol = 1.10g/1000mL

 White Grape Juice: Average Concentration: 0.00445mol/L  g/1000mL

 0.00445mol/L * 176.12g/mol = 0.784g/1000mL

 Vitamin C Tablet: Average Concentration: 0.002875mol/L  
g/1000mL

 0.002875mol/L * 176.12g/mol = 0.5063g/1000mL

 5. Convert this amount into mg of vitamin C per serving (mg/240ml). 

 Orange Juice:   1.10g/L = 1100mg/L  1100mg/L x 1L/1000ml = 
1.10mg/mL

 1.10mg/mL x 240 = 264mg Vit C/serving 

 White Grape Juice: 0.784mg/ml x 240 = 188.16mg Vit 
C/serving 

 Vitamin C Tablet: 0.5063mg/mL x 240 = 121.5mg Vit 
C/serving

 6. Calculate the % DV contained in each sample for men (90mg/day) and 
women (75mg/day) and see if it matches the label for grape juice (100%DV) 
and orange juice (150%). 

 Orange Juice: 

 Men: 264mg / 90  = 293%  Women: 264mg/ 75 = 352%

 White Grape Juice:

 Men: 209%  Women: 250%

 Lab Section 3
Group 2

 Vitamin C Tablet:
 Men: 135%  Women: 162%

 After the calculations it is clear that all of the samples exceeded the % DV for
both men and women. All of the % DV’s were well above the 100% and
150% claims displayed on the nutrition panel.

 Table 2: Concentration Results for Samples

 Sa  [vi  [v  [vit C]  % DV
m t it per   Wome
pl C] C] serving( M n
e m m 240ml)
ol g/
/L m
L
 OJ  0.  1.  264mg   352%
00 10 29
67
5
 W  0.  0.  188.16mg   250%
GJ 00 78 20
52 4
5
 Ta  0.  0.  121.5mg   162%
bl 00 50 13
et 29 63

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 Discussion:

 According to Table 2 it is easy to see that all of the samples met the % DV for
both men and women. Not only did each of them meet the % DV, but also
each sample exceeded the necessary amounts recommended for men and
women. The sample with the highest concentration of vitamin C was the
orange juice, and the lowest was the vitamin C tablet. This was surprising
that a tablet made to provide individuals with ample vitamin C is meeting the
values, but not exceeding them as much as natural sources, such as orange
juice. If the goal were to ingest as much vitamin C as possible, then the best
source would be orange juice, however, due to vitamin C being a water-
soluble vitamin, what the body does not use will be lost in the urine.
Therefore, although the tablet doesn’t supply as much vitamin C per serving
as orange juice, it does supply all that the body needs daily and more than
this amount is not necessary to a healthy body.
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 References:


1. Dawson, P. Laboratory Class Notes (2015): Determination Vitamin C
Concentration Using Titration. Clemson University: Clemson, SC.
2. Evert, A. (2013, February 18). Vitamin C: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
Retrieved April 15, 2015, from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002404.htm
3. Dawson, P. Laboratory Handout (2015): Determination Vitamin C
Concentration by Titration (Redox Titration Using Iodine Solution).
Clemson University: Clemson, SC.

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 LABORATORY REPORT RUBRIC

 Points earned Points

possible

 Introduction

15

 Background

5
 Relevance

 Previously reported methods

 Materials and Methods

15

 Materials List

7.5

 Method description

7.5

 Results

20

 Results presented

18

 Tables/Figures labeled

 Discussion

30

 Results interpreted

12

 Method evaluated

12
 References

10

 Format (JFS)

 In text citation

 Clean up

10

 Total

100

 Extra Credit (pages stapled with Rubric)