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

Define tests to measure flexibility component in the humans, Define Tests t...

Define Tests to Measure Flexibility Component in the Humans? The flexibility component measures the elasticity or range of motion around a joint. This component of physical fi

Nerve fibres, NERV E FIBRES - Axon or dendrite of a nerve cell cove...

NERV E FIBRES - Axon or dendrite of a nerve cell covered with one, two or three sheaths is called nerve fibre. Dendrites are surrounded only by one sheath. An axon may b

How different are gymnosperms from bryophytes, How different are gymnosperm...

How different are gymnosperms from bryophytes and pteridophytes? Gymnosperms are not cryptogamic as bryophytes and pteridophytes are. They are phanerogamic and so they form flo

Rna editing, RNA  editing  is  the  name  given  to  several  reactions  wh...

RNA  editing  is  the  name  given  to  several  reactions  whereby  the  nucleotide series  on an mRNA  molecule  should  be modified  by mechanisms  other  than RNA  splicing.  T

Plasma and its composition, PLASM A - It is slightly alkaline non-l...

PLASM A - It is slightly alkaline non-living intercellular substance which constitutes about 60% part of the blood. It is a pale yellow but transparent and clear fluid.

Explain about the glycoproteins, Explain about the Glycoproteins? Most...

Explain about the Glycoproteins? Most of the naturally occurring conjugated proteins are glycoproteins. Sugar molecules are covalently bound to them, especially those secreted

What is biological control, Q. What is biological control? The Biologic...

Q. What is biological control? The Biological control is a natural method to control the size of microorganism, animal or plant populations. The Biological control is based on

Define neurological disorders of non- nutritional etiology, Define Neurolog...

Define Neurological disorders of non- nutritional etiology? Some of the common disorders are Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and spinal and neuro trauma.

Why are vaccines used in the prevention, Q. Why are vaccines used in the pr...

Q. Why are vaccines used in the prevention but not in the treatment of infections? Why can antivenom serums be used in prevention and treatment? Vaccines are not used in the tr

Mechanism of muscle contraction, Normal 0 false false false...

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

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