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

What do you mean by sex ratio, What do you mean by sex ratio? Sex Rati...

What do you mean by sex ratio? Sex Ratio is defined as "the number of females per 1000 males". Sex ratio is an important social indicator to measure the extent of prevailing e

How old is the earth, How old is the earth? It is believed that the ear...

How old is the earth? It is believed that the earth is about 4.5 billion years old.

Definition of osseointegration in microscopic biophysical, Q. Definition of...

Q. Definition of Osseointegration in microscopic biophysical? Osseointegration implies that at light microscopic and electron microscopic levels, the identifiable components of

Biotechnology, #Is GMO food good as the prospective of the ethic values of ...

#Is GMO food good as the prospective of the ethic values of the society?..

Define the over nutrition obesity of infant, Define the Over nutrition obes...

Define the Over nutrition obesity of Infant? An infant is never put on a reducing diet. The chances of obesity are least if an infant is exclusively breast-fed till 6 months. I

What are the two major types of endocytosis, Q What are the two major types...

Q What are the two major types of endocytosis? Endocytosis is the entry of material in the cell engulfed by portions of the cell membrane. Endocytosis can be classified as p

Homeostasis, HOMEOS T ASI S - Homeo = same,   Stasis = state Li...

HOMEOS T ASI S - Homeo = same,   Stasis = state Living beings maintain their internal environment by self regulating system, it is called homeostasis. Term coined by

Name the groups into which flowering plants are divided, What are the two m...

What are the two main groups into which flowering plants are divided? Angiosperm plants are separated into a) Monocotyledonous (monocots) and b) Dicotyledonous (dicots

What do you determine by atriopore, What do you determine by Atriopore? ...

What do you determine by Atriopore? The external opening to atrium. In cephalochordates water passes across pharyngeal slits into atrium and from there leaves through atriopore

Define biogeographic realm, Q. Define biogeographic realm? Biogeographi...

Q. Define biogeographic realm? Biogeographic regions are large areas that contain characteristic assemblages of animals and plants, d elineated on account of natural barriers s

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