Projection Experiment Test for Vitamin C in Lemonade

Demonstration of Microscale Projection Experiments - Chemistry en miniature

Test for Vitamin C in Lemonade

Peter Keusch

German version

Material:
	Beverage (lemonade), containing vitamin C

Chemicals:
	aqueous solution of ascorbic acid (approx. 0.1 %)
	Tillmann's Reagent: 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol (sodium salt)

Experimental procedure:

Two test tubes are set up as shown in the table below.

Test tube 1	1.5 mL of Tillmann's Reagent / drops of ascorbic acid solution
Test tube 2	1.5 mL of Tillmann's Reagent / drops of lemonade

Results:

Test tube 1	fading from blue to colorless
Test tube 2	blue color disappears, a light red color appears

Discussion:

· Vitamin C is probably the vitamin most sensitive to chemical effects. Vitamin C functions as an antioxidant by virtue of its high reducing power. It neutralizes oxidizing agents before they can damage cells in the body.

General experimental instructions and index of experiments