Ascorbic acid
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
| Ascorbic acid | |
|---|---|
 
| |
| General | |
| Systematic name | 2-oxo-L-threo-hexono- 1,4- lactone-2,3-enediol |
| Other names | Vitamin C |
| Molecular formula | C6H8O6 |
| Molar mass | 176.13 g/mol176.13 amu |
| Appearance | White or light yellow solid |
| CAS number | 50-81-7 |
| Properties | |
| Density and phase | 1.65 g/cm31.65 g/ml |
| Melting point | 190 °C463.15 K 374 °F 833.67 °R (decomposes) |
| Acidity (pKa) | 4.17 (first), 11.6 (second) |
| Supplementary data page | |
| Structure and properties | n, εr, etc. |
| Thermodynamic data | Phase behaviour Solid, liquid, gas |
| Spectral data | UV, IR, NMR, MS |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Disclaimer and references | |
Ascorbic acid is also know as Vitamin C. Humans and other primates and animals can not make ascorbic acid on their own so they have to receive it from the food that they eat. Foods that have vitamin c in them include kiwi, strawberries, oranges, papaya, and many others. If you do not have enough vitamin c in your body you will get scurvy, which is vitamin c deficiency. Symptoms of scurvy include bleeding gums an skin discoloration. You can also have too much vitamin c in your body but it doesn't hurt you.
Contents |
Properties
Ascorbic acid is also know as vitamin C. Vitamin C is probably one of the more known nutrients because of it wide use by the public. Ascorbic acid is a water-soluble nutrient that can be easily disposed of from the body when not needed. Ascorbic Acid is so important to all living creatures that most of them create ascorbic acid on there own. Only a few different species can not make it on their own so they need to receive it from other sources. All humans have different levels of vitamin C that they need to have in their bodies. Some reasons that can cause a person to have to consume different amounts of ascorbic acid are their age and health status.
Occurrences
Ascorbic acid is found in foods, plants, and animal. All living animals will make it, eat it or will die from lack of it. Reptiles and some types of birds make ascorbic acid in their kidneys. Most types of birds and most mammals will make ascorbic acid in their livers. Humans and other mammals can not make ascorbic acid by themselves so they have to receive it from different kinds of food like fruits such as oranges, kiwis, strawberries, and others. Humans can't make ascorbic acid and it is essential for us to have to live so it is termed a vitamin even though for most types of animals it is a natural nutrient that they make.
Uses
Ascorbic acid is oxidized easily and is as preservative. Light, oxygen, metals, and heat destroy ascorbic acid so it must be stored in a dark, cold, non metal container. In its oxidized form ascorbic acid is known as dehydroascorbic acid. The name of "ascorbic" acid is the result from its ability to prevent and cure scurvy, which is vitamin C deficiency. Humans and many different species in animal kingdom have lost the ability to make ascorbic by themselves, therefore they must receive it from their food. Ascorbic acid with its sodium, potassium, and calcium salts are used as antioxidant food additives. Almost all of the ascorbic acid that the world receives is produce in China.
Ascorbic Acid in Food
Vitamin C is in many different foods including kiwi, strawberries, orange's and many others. Humans need to receive ascorbic acid from food sources because we cannot make it on are own. We receive ascorbic acid from papaya, bell peppers, broccoli, strawberries, kiwi, oranges, and many more. I you do not have enough vitamin c in your diet you can get scurvy. Scurvy is vitamin c deficiency. You can die from scurvy if you do not go and get treated for it. Symptoms of scurvy include bleeding gums, and skin discoloration. Also weak immune systems is another symptom. You can also have to much vitamin c, where you have too much. If you have too much vitamin C you blood can receive too much iron from plant foods. Another thing that can happen is having to much ulric acid in your urine.
References
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