EXPERIMENT #9 : Vitamin Analysis

VITAMINS
▪ Organic compound essential for proper body functioning.

▪ Obtained from the dietary sources

▪ Cofactor in conjugated enzymes

▪ Two classes of Vitamins:

▪ Water-soluble Vitamins

▪ Fat (lipid) soluble Vitamins

1. WATER-SOLUBLE VITAMINS:

▪ Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)

▪ Vitamin B Complex: (B1 to B12)

• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

• Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

2. FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS:

▪ Vitamin A (Retinol, β-carotene)

▪ Vitamin D (Calciferol)

▪ Vitamin E (Tocopherol)

▪ Vitamin K (Phylloquinone/ Menaquinone)

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS:
A. PREPARATION FROM COMMERCIALLY-PREPARED VITAMINS

▪ CCl4 (Carbon Tetrachloride) is used to dissolve fat-soluble Vitamins (A, D, E). A nonpolar
solution.

B. ORGANIC SOURCES

▪ Carrots – source of Vitamin A

▪ Fish liver oil – source of Vitamin D

▪ Coconut oil – source of Vitamin E

 ▪ Yeast – source of Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

▪ Tomatoes – source of Vitamin C

C. VITAMIN A ANALYSIS

▪ SbCl3 (Antimony Trichloride) in Chloroform is used to detect Vitamin A or carotenoids.

▪ Colorimetric method: “Carr-Price Method”

▪ Positive result: Blue-colored complex

D. VITAMIN D ANALYSIS

▪ Pyrogallol in Benzene – used to dissolve Vitamin D.

▪ AlCl3 (Aluminum Chloride) – inhibits Vitamin D – dependent Calcium absorption.

▪ Principle: Aluminum will form a complex with Vitamin D, inhibiting it from being absorbed by
the body.

▪ Result: Yellow solution with white precipitate

E. VITAMIN E ANALYSIS

▪ Nitric acid in alcohol is a very explosive solution.

▪ Positive result: Formation of 2 layers.

▫ Top layer – orange-colored solution

▫ Bottom layer – yellow –colored solution

F. NIACIN ANALYSIS

▪ NaOH – used to neutralize the solution

▪ Copper (III) Sulfate – used to dissolve Vitamin B

▪ Result: Deep blue solution (Deep blue due to the pyrimidine content of Niacin with exchange to
Copper ions.)

G. VITAMIN C ANALYSIS

▪ Phosphomolybdic acid is reduced into Molydenum Blue by Ascorbic acid.

▪ Color change is directly proportional to the amount of Vitamin C present.

▪ Result: Blue-colored complex