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| L-Ascorbic acid | |
|---|---|
| Chemical name | 2-oxo-L-threo-hexono- 1,4-lactone-2,3-enediol or (R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-((R)- 1,2-dihydroxyethyl)furan-2(5H)-one |
| Chemical formula | C6H8O6 |
| Molecular mass | 176.12 g/mol |
| Melting point | 190 - 192 °C |
| CAS number | 50-81-7 |
| SMILES | OC1=C(C(O[C@@H]1[C@@H](CO)O)=O)O |
Ascorbic acid is an organic acid and antioxidant also known as vitamin C. In 1937 the Nobel Prize for chemistry was awarded to Walter Haworth for his work in determining the structure of ascorbic acid, (It was shared with Paul Karrer , who received his award for work on vitamins), and the prize for Medicine that year went to Albert Szent-Györgyi for his studies of the biological functions of ascorbic acid.
See the Vitamin C article for a discussion of social, historical and medical aspects.
Ascorbic acid is easily oxidized and so is used as a reductant in photographic developer solutions (among others) and as a preservative.
The L enantiomer of ascorbic acid is also known as vitamin C (the name "ascorbic" comes from its property of preventing and curing scurvyScurvy is a disease that results from insufficient intake of vitamin C and leads to the formation of livid spots on the skin, spongy gums and bleeding from almost all mucous membranes. The spots are most abundant on the thighs and legs, and a person with). PrimateFor the ecclesiastical use of this term, see primate (religion 13, See text A primate is any member of the biological order Primates the group that contains all lemurs, monkeys, and apes, including humans. The English singular primate is a back-formations (including humans) and a few other species, such as the guinea pigCavia porcellus Cavia aperea Cavia tschudii Cavia guianae Cavia anolaimae Cavia nana Cavia fulgida Cavia magna Guinea pigs (also called cavies are rodents belonging to the family Cavidae and the genus Cavia''. Currently there is a scientific dispute as to, cannot synthesise vitamin C from glucoseGlucose a simple monosaccharide sugar, is one of the most important carbohydrates and is used as a source of energy in animals and plants. Glucose is one of the main products of photosynthesis and starts respiration. The natural form (D-glucose) is also r.
Ascorbic acid and its sodium, potassium, and calcium salts are commonly used as antioxidant food additiveFood additives are substances added to food to preserve it, or to improve its flavour and appearance. Some additives have been used for centuries; for example, when preserving food by pickling (with vinegar), salting, as with bacon, or using sulfur dioxids. These compounds are water soluble and thus cannot protect fats from oxidation: for this purpose, the fat- solubleA substance is soluble if it dissolves in certain fluids. The dissolved substance is called the solute and the fluid (present in excess) is called the solvent, which together form a solution. The process of dissolving is called solvation, or hydration if esterFor the Biblical Ester, see Esther. For the town, see Ester, Alaska. In organic chemistry and biochemistry esters are substances that have the functional group R´-COOR" (the carbon is double-bonded to one oxygen atom and single-bonded to another) and conss of ascorbic acid with long-chain fatty acids (ascorbyl palmitate or ascorbyl stearate) can be used as food antioxidants. The relevant European food additive E numbers are: E300 ascorbic acid, E301 sodium ascorbate, E302 calcium ascorbate, E303 potassium ascorbate, E304 fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid (i) ascorbyl palmitate (ii) ascorbyl stearate.