Determination of Vitamin C

Haylee Stiffler

SCH 121-01

1/29/2018
Abstract:

The amount of Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, was found in both a known

sample and an unknown drink sample using titration, which was based on the oxidization of

Vitamin C by Iodine. A starch indicator was used to determine when the iodine had reacted

completely with the Vitamin C.

Introduction:

The main objective in this experiment was to determine how much Vitamin C was in an

unknown drink sample as well as a known sample through titration. Vitamin C is a coenzyme in

the human body that is used to deliver hydride ions. The recommended daily allowance of

Vitamin C is 60 mg. Vitamin C deficiency results in scurvy, which weakens the muscles. Having

an excess of Vitamin C causes kidney stones.

Titration is a quantitative technique used to determine concentration. In order to perform

a titration, a buret must be filled with a titrant (iodine solution) and placed above a titrane

(known vitamin C sample or drink sample), which includes an indicator solution. The indicator

solution used in this experiment was starch, which caused the Vitamin C solution to turn blue

when the excess iodine reacted with the starch in the Vitamin C solution. The titration in this

experiment was based on the oxidation of vitamin C by elemental Iodine, shown below.

IO3-(aq) + I2(aq)  C6H6O6(aq) + 2H+(aq) + 2I-(aq)

potassium iodate and potassium iodide in an acidic solution, as seen below. This experiment

required accurate measurements in order to make sure the calculations would be correct. In order

to have the measurements be as accurate as accurate as possible, a volumetric pipette was used

throughout.

IO3-(aq) + 5I-(aq) + 6H+(aq)  3I2(aq) + 3H2O(l)

Experimental:

0.01 M Potassium Iodate (50 mL) 10% potassium iodide (20 mL), and 0.03M sulfuric

acid (25 mL) were all transferred into a 100-mL volumetric flask using a volumetric pipette. The

Volumetric flask was then filled to the mark with distilled water, before being covered with

Parafilm and inverted, allowing the contents to mix.

After observations of Vitamin World brand Vitamin C were made, it was transferred to a

tared piece of weighing paper, which was then placed on the scale. After the mass was recorded

as 0.26 g, the Vitamin C was transferred into a clean 50-mL volumetric flask, using a funnel to

prevent spillage. The 50-mL volumetric flask was the filled to the mark with distilled water,

covered with Parafilm, and inverted, allowing the Vitamin C to mix with the distilled water.

Vitamin C solution (10 mL) was then measured with a volumetric pipette, and was

transferred into a clean 250-mL Erlenmeyer flask. 0.3 M H2SO4 (5 mL) and 1% starch solution

(2 mL) were then added to the 250-mL Erlenmeyer flask containing the Vitamin C solution. The

flask was then swirled to allow the solution to mix. The buret was then conditioned with the

iodine solution prepared previously. Iodine was then poured into the buret and the initial volume

was measured and recorded. The iodine solution was then used to titrate the solution. The iodine
solution was added dropwise until the solution turned from clean to a reddish brown, signaling

the end point. The final buret reading was then recorded.

Observations were recorded about the Welch’s White Grape juice, including the amount

of Vitamin C found on the label. The drink sample (50 mL) was measured with a volumetric

pipette and placed into a clean 250-mLErlenmeyer flask. 0.3 M H2SO4 (10 mL) and 1% starch

solution (2 mL) were then added to the 250-mL Erlenmeyer flask containing the drink sample

solution. Iodine was then poured into the buret, and the initial volume was recorded. The iodine

solution was then used to titrate the drink sample solution, by adding the iodine solution

dropwise until the drink sample solution turned from transparent yellow in color to dark blue,

showing that the end point had been reached. The final buret reading was the recorded.

Data/Results:

Table 1: Known Vitamin C sample observations and mass used

Brand Vitamin World

Observations White, crystal appearance, glittery

Amount of Vitamin C per serving 5000 mg/5 g

Mass of vitamin C used 0.26 g

Table 2: Drink Sample Observations and volume used

Drink Type Welch’s White Grape juice

Observations Transparent yellow appearance

Amount of Vitamin C per serving 60 mg/295mL

Volume used 50 mL
Table 3: Titration of Known Vitamin C Sample

Volume of 0.3M Initial Buret Final Buret Actual Volume

H2SO4 Reading Reading of Iodine

Trail 1 4.90 mL 6.40 mL 32.70 mL 26.30 mL

Trial 5.00 mL 12.4 mL 30.00 mL 17.70 mL

Table 4: Titration of Drink Sample with Iodine

Volume of 0.3M Initial Buret Final Buret Actual Volume

H2SO4 and drink Reading Reading of Iodine

Trial 1 9.90 mL 21.40 mL 31.30 mL 9.90 mL

Trail 2 9.80 mL 20.50 mL 29.90 mL 9.40 mL

Known Vitamin C sample trial calculations:

1. Expected Vitamin C concentration in the 50-mL flask:

200g x (5000mg/5g) = (1300mg vitamin C/50mL) = 5.2mL

2. Expected amount of Vitamin C in the Erlenmeyer flask:

(5.2mg/1mL) x 10mL = 52mg Vitamin C

3. Amount of Vitamin C found in the titrated sample:

(0.01 mol IO3-/1L) x 0.05L = 0.0005 mol IO3-

0.0005 mol IO3- x (3 mol I2/1 mol IO3-) = 0.0015 mol I2

(0.0015 mol I2/0.1 L) = 0.015 mol/L I2

Trial 1: 0.0263 L I2 x (0.015 mol I2/1L) = 0.000395 mol I2

Trial 2: 17.7 mL x (1L/1000mL) x (0.015 mol I2/1L) x (176.1g/1mol I2) x (1000 mg/1g)

= 46.7 mg Vitamin C

Drink sample trial calculations:

1. Expected Vitamin C concentration in drink sample:

50mL x (60mg/295mL) = 10.17mg Vitamin C

2. Expected amount of Vitamin C in Erlenmeyer flask:

10.17 mg Vitamin C

3. Amount of Vitamin C found in the titrated sample:

Trial 1: 9.9 mL x (1L/1000mL) x (0.015 mol I2/1L) = 0.00149 mol I2

0.00149 mol I2 x (176.1g/1mol I2) x (1000mg/1g) = 26.62 mg Vitamin C

Trial 2: 0.00940 L x (0.015 mol I2/1L) = 0.00141 mol I2

0.00141 mol I2 x (176.1g/1mol I2) x (1000mg/1g) = 24.3 mg Vitamin C

Comparison of results:

1. Average amount of Vitamin C found in the known sample trials:

(69.5 mg + 46.8 mg)/2 = 58.15 mg Vitamin C

2. Calculate the % error of your results:

58.15 mg – 52 mg/ 58.15 mg x 100 = 10.58%

3. Calculate the average amount of vitamin C found in the drink sample trials:

(26.2 mg + 24.8 mg)/2 = 25.5 mg Vitamin C

4. Calculate the % error of your results

Discussion:

The main objective of this experiment was to find out how much Vitamin C was in a

drink sample, which we did successfully. Both my partner and I used the same drink sample, and

found the average Vitamin C content to be 25.5 mg, which is higher than 10.17 mg, our expected

Vitamin C content. A possible source of error would be other parts of the drink reacting to the

iodine, causing the color change to occur sooner than it would have without those other

chemicals. In order to avoid this for future experiments, we could try to find out what else was

reacting with the iodine, and attempt to remove what that was. We could also potentially do this

experiment with a drink that wouldn’t contain anything else that might react, allowing our results

to be more accurate. Another potential source of error could be allowing too much of the iodine

solution to come into contact with the vitamin C mixtures, which caused our known sample to

turn a reddish-brown color instead of the light blue it should been. This could be avoided in the

future by making sure we’re swirling the mixture enough while the iodine solution is being

added dropwise. While we did use a volumetric pipette for all exact measurements, it’s possible

that there was human error that caused our measurements to be slightly off, which could be

avoided by being as precise as possible.

Our average Vitamin C content in our unknown drink sample ended up being 25.5 mg,

which is just under half of the recommended daily allowance of 60 mg. One bottle of our sample

was 295 mL. In order to consume 60 mg of Vitamin C, you would need to have 2.35 bottles, or

693.25 mL, of our sample.