Experiments With Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbic acid can be found in a wide range of food including citrus fruits and green vegetables.

Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, is a common vitamin found in foods that we eat. Ascorbic acid is very unstable acid and breaks down quickly and can be lost during cooking and preserving processes. Science experiment testing amounts of ascorbic acid in various items requires the use of titration equipment.

Compare Orange Juices

Test various kinds of orange juice to see which has the highest concentration of ascorbic acid. Types of orange juices to compare are freshly squeezed, store-bought in liquid form, and frozen orange juice from concentrate. Use equal amount of juice from each type and complete a titration using an iodine indicator to test the orange juices. Test which orange juice has the highest level of ascorbic acid, and see if the amount of vitamin C in the juice matches what is listed on the label.

Which Juice Has More

Compare the vitamin C levels in various fruit juices like lemon, lime, cranberry, tomato and grapefruit juice. Determine which type of juice has the most vitamin C through titration. Use the iodine indicator to compare equal amounts of juice. Compare which fruits have more ascorbic acid than other kinds of juice.

Temperature Test

Test the effect of temperature on ascorbic acid levels. Select a type of juice to test that has high levels of ascorbic acid. Take equal samples of the juice and expose the juice to different temperatures over a period of time. For example, have one juice in the refrigerator, one at room temperature and another on the stove trying to reach a higher temperature. Allow the samples to sit at temperature for a few hours. Test each sample using the iodine indicator to determine which sample of the juice has the highest level of ascorbic acid. Find out which samples have the highest level of ascorbic acid and which have the least.

Air Exposure

Test to see if exposure to air effects the levels of ascorbic acid in juice. Take equal amounts of juice and place in different containers. Each container should have a different surface area. Allow the samples to sit at the same temperature for a few hours, and test the ascorbic acid of each of the samples. Compare the samples to see if the levels of ascorbic acid changed. Determine if the amount of surface area makes a difference as to the amount of ascorbic acid in the sample.

Tags: ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid, highest level, highest level ascorbic, iodine indicator