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

Microbiology, 2. Vaccinations against various childhood diseases have contr...

2. Vaccinations against various childhood diseases have contributed to the entry of women, particularly mothers, into the fulltime workplace. a. Is this statement supported by data

What is lymphatic system in human biology, What is Lymphatic System in huma...

What is Lymphatic System in human biology? The lymphatic system maintains fluid balance and serves in protecting the body from disease. The primary organs of the lymphatic syst

Sunshine recorder, Sunshine recorder Sunshine recorder (Figure shown be...

Sunshine recorder Sunshine recorder (Figure shown below) measures the duration of sunshine. The recorder consists essentially of a glass sphere of about 10 cm in diameter mount

Regulation of alkalinity and acidity of the plasma, Q. In which nephron por...

Q. In which nephron portion does the regulation of alkalinity and acidity of the plasma occur? The regulation of the acid-basic equilibrium of the body is done by the kidneys a

Homeostasis., drawandlabelthemajorendocrineglandsinthehumanbody

drawandlabelthemajorendocrineglandsinthehumanbody

Define myocardial infraction and stress testing, Q. Define Myocardial infra...

Q. Define Myocardial infraction and stress testing? Prediction of disease is one of the primary functions of stress testing. We would like to be able to predict in each patient

Why do cells of the nephron tubules, Q. Why do cells of the nephron tubules...

Q. Why do cells of the nephron tubules present a great amount of mitochondria? The cells of the tubule wall have high number of mitochondria because many substances are secrete

Illustrate the improper implant design, Improper Implant Design Out of ...

Improper Implant Design Out of the plethora of implant systems available it is the responsibility of the clinician to select the most suitable. In comparison of the straight cy

How do populations of predators vary in predatism, How do populations of pr...

How do populations of predators and prey vary in predatism? Whenever a predator population enhances at the first moment the prey population tends to decrease. At a second momen

Production diseases, Pr o d u c t i o n Diseases The production...

Pr o d u c t i o n Diseases The production diseases, which were previously referred as metabolic diseases, include diseases like parturient paresis (milk fever), downer

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