Vitamin C ( Ascorbic Acid)

Build a molecular model of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) wihh Authentic Molymod Atoms & Bonds from Indigo Instruments

The chemical structure of vitamin C is a five-membered lactone (furanone) ring with four hydroxyl (-OH) groups. The molecule is chiral with L-ascorbic acid as the biologically active stereoisomer.

Ascorbic acid or vitamin C is perhaps the best known vitamin because of its dietary importance & because humans are unable to make their own. Vitamin C deficiency leads to scurvy (ascorbic acid, from the Latin "scorbutus" hence the derived English word scurvy). Vitamin C is essential for a variety of important metabolic functions. It is necessary for synthesizing collagen which is a structural protein in skin, blood vessels, and connective tissue. It helps absorb non-heme iron from plant sources that is used as hemoglobin in red blood cellls. It is an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and reduces oxidative stress. Its other important blood role is in support of white blood cell which fight infections.

You can do Vitamin C concentration experiments on fruit juices & other liquids using our Ascorbic Acid/Vitamin C test strips.

A molecular model of Vitamin C in the Molymod Hybrid Dome style uses the atoms & bonds in the parts list below. Our free 3D Molecular Model Builder shows other styles & allows for image rotation as an assembly guide.