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 the origins of replication, Normal 0 false false fa...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Is acetylcholine used in consciousness, Q. Is Acetylcholine used in conscio...

Q. Is Acetylcholine used in consciousness? Cholinergic mechanisms are important in wakefulness and cortical activation. In general, increased acetylcholine is associated with w

Nonshivering thermogenesis, Normal 0 false false false ...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Explain about the biofertilizers, Explain about the Biofertilizers Biof...

Explain about the Biofertilizers Biofertilizers, are the cultures of microorganisms used for inoculating seed or soil or both under ideal conditions to increase the availabilit

Describe the classification of life in diversity of life, Describe the Clas...

Describe the Classification of Life in diversity of life? There are at least 10 million different kinds of living organisms inhabiting Earth. Many different organisms have comm

The atomic number of the isotope 238u of uranium is 92, The atomic number o...

The atomic number of the isotope 238U of uranium is 92. The nucleus of this isotope contains a) 184 protons, 92 electrons, and 54 neutrons. b) 92 protons and 146 neutrons. c) 92 pr

How can the binding of two amino acids, Q. How can the binding of two amino...

Q. How can the binding of two amino acids for the peptide formation be explained? A peptide is formed when a carbon from the carboxyl group of one amino acid is connected to th

Describe about the argyll robertson pupil, Describe about the Argyll Robert...

Describe about the Argyll Robertson Pupil (ARP) Argyll Robertson Pupil (ARP) occurs in patients who have tertiary syphilis. There is a "light-near dissociation" because pupils

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