Name: Wai Kwan Ng, JasonStudent Number: 100814Chemistry B Laboratory Report - Determination of the mass of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in commercial vitamin CD tabletsDate of experiment: 26/2/2014Title: Determination of the mass of ascorbic acid in commercial vitamin C tablets. Objectives: Determine the molarity of cerium (IV) sulfate solution and the mass of ascorbic acid ( vitamin C) in tablets. Introduction Ascorbic acid is an important organic compound in nature. The chemical formula of ascorbic acid is C6H8O6 and its structure is shown in Figure 1 (XIANG, et. al., accessed 2014). It is a white solid if pure and a slightly acidic solution will be emitted when ascorbic acid is dissolved in water (ZHANG, 2013).Fig.1: Structure of ascorbic acidAscorbic acid is also called vitamin C and its antioxidant and metabolic properties. The properties are essential to plants and animals. For example, most deficiency diseases, such as scurvy, can be cured with ascorbic acid. Additionally, vitamin C is helpful in improving the human immune system (ZHANG, 2013). Ascorbic acid acts in particular as an antioxidant to react with the oxidants of reactive oxygen species (ASARD, et.al., 2004). Reactive oxygen species refer to reactive oxygen-containing molecules and one of the examples is the hydroxyl radical (ZHANG, 2013). This type of radical can harm human health by interacting with proteins, lipids and nucleic acid in human cells (ASARD, et.al., 2004). Since ascorbic acid can react with these radicals, the resulting molecules will become stable and no longer harm human cells (ASARD, et.al., 2004). However, as humans cannot synthesize vitamin C themselves,... . middle of paper ......d ascorbic acid solution. As a result, the first three titles were used even though the first was a difficult try. Conclusion In conclusion, the molarity of the cerium(IV) sulfate solution was found to be 0.0478 M in the first part of the experiment. Additionally, one of the tablets contained 63.52 mg of vitamin C and another tablet contained 61.42 mg of vitamin C.Reference1. ASARD H., et.al., 2004. Vitamin C: its functions and biochemistry in animals and plants. Oxon: Garland Science/BIOS Scientific Publishers.2. KENKEL J., 2014. Analytical chemistry for technicians, fourth edition. New York: CRC Press.3. RAMSDEN EN, 2000. A-Level Chemistry, fourth edition. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes Limited.4. XIANG C., and. al., accessed 2014. http://cnx.org/content/m38343/latest. Webpage.5. ZHANG Y., 2013. Ascorbic acid in plants: biosynthesis, regulation and improvement. London: Springer.