Question

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is present in:
A.Tea
B.Milk
C.Ants
D.Fruits and vegetables

Answer 1

Hint:
Ascorbic acid (vitamin) is an excellent water soluble antioxidant. In higher organisms it is synthesized from abundant glucose precursors while humans solely depend on nutritional supply.

Complete step by step answer:
Ascorbic acid is essential for arteries, other soft tissue, gums and bones (collagen synthesis) for brain and nerve function, for nutrient metabolism, and for antioxidant defense (directly and by reactivating vitamin E).
Ascorbic acid is an important redox cofactor in animal and plant synthesis.
Berries, tomatoes, citrus fruits, broccoli, green peppers are rich sources of vitamin C.
The correct option is D.
If we talk about stereochemistry, a naturally occurring form of ascorbic acid is L-ascorbic acid. The structure of L-ascorbic acid is as follows-
Here the L isomer represents the position of the hydroxyl group. In L form, the hydroxyl group is to the left side of asymmetric carbon in Fischer projection formula.

Additional Information:
-Being a water-soluble vitamin, excess of vitamin C cannot be stored in our body and the excess is excreted in the urine.
-Ascorbic acid is synthesized in the animals through the uronic acid pathway. But humans and animals cannot synthesize it.
-Ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbate are interconvertible forms.
-Ascorbic acid is a strong reducing agent.
-Ascorbic acid carries out mono and di-oxygenated reactions by free radical dependent mechanism.

Note:Ascorbate is essential for maintenance of connective tissue and also for wound healing. It is necessary for bone remodeling.
-Deficiency of vitamin C causes a disease known as scurvy. Symptoms include weakness, sore arms and legs, fatigue, bleeding gums.