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

Describe what is circulatory support and inotropes, Describe what is Circul...

Describe what is Circulatory Support and Inotropes ? Colloid or Crystalloids: Hypotension after PGEl infusion is common. It is the result of relative intravascular volume deple

Explain adverse effects of ganciclovir, Explain Adverse Effects of ganciclo...

Explain Adverse Effects of ganciclovir Ganciclovir is teratogenic, carcinogenic and mutagenic and causes aspermatogenesis in animals. Granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia, whi

What are the pentoses, Q. What are the pentoses? To what organic group do t...

Q. What are the pentoses? To what organic group do the pentoses belong? Are nucleotides formed of only one kind of pentose? Carbohydrates are Pentoses made of five carbons. Deo

Osmosis, If you have water, 10% sucrose, and 40% sucrose solution. Which so...

If you have water, 10% sucrose, and 40% sucrose solution. Which solutions were isotonic to each other?

#title.how can help me solve this problem?, i have a question on how to pro...

i have a question on how to proceed the fomular of delete the gene on the human body.

Microfilaments - cytoskeletal structures, MICROFILAMENTS Discovered ...

MICROFILAMENTS Discovered by Pelvitz. These are smallest cell structure. These are non-living structures. These are solid structures, consists of actin protein (c

Effect of environmental factors-sexual reproduction, Effect of Environmenta...

Effect of Environmental Factors some lower organisms, though the genetic determiners of the sexes are present, the ambient environment plays a decisive role in the development

What do ypu know about conduction disturabances, Q. What do ypu know about ...

Q. What do ypu know about Conduction Disturabances? During exercise there is an increase in the sympathetic drive and a withdrawal of vagal tone. Sympathetic enhancement of con

Explain the term direct calorimetry, Explain the term Direct Calorimetry? ...

Explain the term Direct Calorimetry? Calorimetry refers to the measurement of the amount of heat evolved or absorbed in a chemical reaction, change of state, or formation of a

Explain the dispersed phase of colloidal system, Explain the dispersed phas...

Explain the dispersed phase of colloidal system Colloidal systems are not restricted to the dispersion of a solid in liquid.  Each of the three states of matter - gaseous, soli

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