Define the ascorbic acid - basic concepts, Biology

Assignment Help:

Define the Ascorbic Acid - Basic Concepts?

Ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, whose structure is shown in Figure. You would have noticed that its structure resembles glucose.

570_Ascorbic Acid – Basic Concepts.png

Figure: Structure of vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

As the name suggests, ascorbic acid is acidic in nature and a pure solution of this white crystalline substance has a pH of about 3. 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. Ascorbic acid is stable in solid form and in acidic solutions but is easily destroyed in alkaline solutions.

Oxidative destruction of ascorbic acid is accelerated by increasing the pH. Some mammals like rat can synthesize the vitamin from glucose by the uronic acid pathway. However, primates like humans and some other animals like guinea pig, bats, fish, birds cannot synthesize this vitamin. They lack the enzyme L gulonolactone oxidase which prevents its synthesis from glucose. Since these species from the animal kingdom cannot produce ascorbic acid, they have to obtain it entirely through the diet. Hence, its importance. 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. We are already familiar with the functions of vitamin C.


Related Discussions:- Define the ascorbic acid - basic concepts

Explain process to maintain the quality of frying oil, Maintaining the qual...

Maintaining the quality of frying oil  As frying continues, the level of oil in the fryer depletes. There are two beneficial frying fat quality factors affected during the fryi

Describe the terms diffusion osmosis and filtration, Describe the terms dif...

Describe the terms diffusion, osmosis and filtration. Explain why each process is important for the human body.

Describe palynological evidence, Q. Describe Palynological Evidence? Pa...

Q. Describe Palynological Evidence? Palynology is the study of pollen and spores. The taxonomic characters of pollen grains include wall structure, polarity, symmetry, shape an

Blood groups, BLOO D GROUPS- In R.B.C. on plasmalemma antigen or agglu...

BLOO D GROUPS- In R.B.C. on plasmalemma antigen or agglutinogen present form antibodies or agglutinines. Blood groups are based on antigens. 1 .      ABO SYSTEM -

Proteins, assignment on the topic proteins

assignment on the topic proteins

What is the difference between rna and dna, Q. Concerning the nitrogen- con...

Q. Concerning the nitrogen- containing bases that participate in nucleotides, what is the difference between RNA and DNA? In DNA nucleotides can be formed of thymine (T), adeni

using a two-sample t-test , After stinging its victim, the honeybee leaves...

After stinging its victim, the honeybee leaves behind the barbed stinger, poison sac, and muscles that continue to pump venom into the wound. A study compared two methods of removi

Osmotic adjustment or osmoregulation - osmotic stress, Osmotic adjustment o...

Osmotic adjustment or Osmoregulation - Osmotic Stress If concentration of soluble matter (in the form of minerals and small organic molecules) builds up in the external medium

Define factors affecting absorption of dietary iron, Define Factors affecti...

Define Factors affecting Absorption of Dietary Iron? There are mainly four factors that determine iron bioavailability absorption from the diet. These include: i) Form of ir

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd