VITAMIN C

Vitamin C is the common name for ascorbic acid, a water-soluble vitamin used in food, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics as an essential nutrient and antioxidant, and Vitamin C is valued for supporting collagen formation, immune function, and oxidative protection in many applications.
Vitamin C is widely used for nutritional fortification and as an antioxidant to help protect flavor, color, and sensitive ingredients from oxidation, and Vitamin C is also used in skincare to support brightening and antioxidant claims in compatible formulations.
Vitamin C is typically supplied as a white to off-white crystalline powder, and Vitamin C performance depends on purity, particle size, and protection from heat, moisture, oxygen, and light because Vitamin C can oxidize during processing and storage.

CAS Number: 50-81-7
EC Number: 200-066-2
Molecular Formula: C6H8O6
Molecular Weight: 176.12 g/mol

Synonyms: Vitamin C, Ascorbic Acid, L-Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid Powder, Ascorbate Vitamin, Antioxidant Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin C Food Grade, Vitamin C USP, Ascorbic Acid E300 (food additive naming), L-Ascorbate, Ascorbic Acid Antioxidant, Vitamin C Nutrient, Vitamin C, Ascorbic Acid, L-Ascorbic Acid, L-ascorbate, Ascorbate, Antiscorbutic Vitamin, Antiscorbutic Factor, Hexuronic Acid, Cevitamic Acid, 2,3-Didehydro-L-threo-hexono-1,4-lactone, L-threo-Hex-2-enono-1,4-lactone, 3-Oxo-L-gulofuranolactone, L-Xyloascorbic Acid, Reduced Ascorbic Acid, Pure Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid Powder, Vitamin C Powder, Crystalline Vitamin C, Water Soluble Vitamin C, Food Grade Vitamin C, Feed Grade Vitamin C, Pharmaceutical Grade Vitamin C, Cosmetic Grade Vitamin C, Nutritional Grade Vitamin C, Supplement Grade Vitamin C, High Purity Vitamin C, Industrial Vitamin C, Technical Grade Vitamin C, Vitamin C Additive, Vitamin C Nutrient, Vitamin C Fortificant, Vitamin C Dietary Supplement, Ascorbic Acid Dietary Supplement, Ascorbic Acid Antioxidant, Vitamin C Antioxidant, E300 Ascorbic Acid, INS 300 Ascorbic Acid, L-Ascorbic Acid E300, Ascorbic Acid Reagent, L-Ascorbic Acid Reagent, Analytical Grade Ascorbic Acid, USP Ascorbic Acid, BP Ascorbic Acid, EP Ascorbic Acid, JP Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin C Skin Care Ingredient

APPLICATIONS

Vitamin C is used in dietary supplements to support normal collagen formation and antioxidant protection.
Vitamin C is incorporated into tablets, capsules, and powders as a daily vitamin ingredient in wellness products.
Vitamin C is used in effervescent formulations to provide fast-dissolving vitamin delivery in drink formats.

Vitamin C is used in food and beverage fortification to increase micronutrient content.
Vitamin C is incorporated into juices, beverages, cereals, and confectionery in selected applications to support nutritional claims.
Vitamin C is used in powdered drink mixes to deliver vitamin content after reconstitution.

Vitamin C is used in food processing as an antioxidant to reduce oxidative browning and protect sensitive flavors.
Vitamin C is incorporated into cut fruit and vegetable treatments to reduce discoloration and improve appearance.
Vitamin C is used in meat processing in selected applications to support color stability and reduce nitrosamine formation in compatible curing systems.

Vitamin C is used in cosmetics and personal care in selected formulations as an antioxidant and brightening active.
Vitamin C is incorporated into serums and creams to support more even-looking skin tone and improved radiance in compatible pH and packaging designs.
Vitamin C is used in combination with other antioxidants such as vitamin E and ferulic acid in selected formulations to improve stability and performance.

Vitamin C is valued because Vitamin C provides essential nutritional function and strong antioxidant behavior that improves stability, shelf life, and performance in many food, supplement, and cosmetic systems when properly protected from oxidation.

Vitamin C is used in dietary supplement formulations.
Vitamin C helps provide ascorbic acid nutrition in tablets, capsules, powders, gummies, and liquids.
Vitamin C is used in multivitamin products.
Vitamin C supports daily vitamin intake in general wellness formulations.

Vitamin C is used in immune-support supplement products.
Vitamin C helps support normal immune system function.
Vitamin C is used in antioxidant supplement formulations.
Vitamin C helps protect cells from oxidative stress.

Vitamin C is used in effervescent tablet formulations.
Vitamin C supports convenient and fast-dissolving vitamin delivery systems.
Vitamin C is used in chewable supplement tablets.
Vitamin C helps provide flavored and easy-to-consume vitamin products.

Vitamin C is used in powdered drink mixes.
Vitamin C supports vitamin enrichment in instant beverages and hydration products.
Vitamin C is used in functional beverages.
Vitamin C helps improve the nutritional profile of juices, sports drinks, and wellness drinks.

Vitamin C is used in fortified food products.
Vitamin C helps enrich cereals, snacks, confectionery, dairy alternatives, and processed foods.
Vitamin C is used in fruit juice fortification.
Vitamin C helps restore or increase vitamin content after processing.

Vitamin C is used as an antioxidant in food processing.
Vitamin C helps reduce oxidation in compatible food and beverage systems.
Vitamin C is used to help prevent browning in fruit and vegetable products.
Vitamin C supports color preservation in cut fruits, juices, and processed produce.

Vitamin C is used in meat processing.
Vitamin C helps support curing reactions and color stability in selected meat products.
Vitamin C is used in bakery formulations.
Vitamin C can act as a flour treatment agent and dough improver in suitable systems.

Vitamin C is used in animal feed premixes.
Vitamin C supports vitamin enrichment in livestock, poultry, aquaculture, and pet nutrition.
Vitamin C is used in aquaculture feed formulations.
Vitamin C helps support growth, stress tolerance, and nutritional balance in fish and shrimp feed.

Vitamin C is used in pharmaceutical preparations.
Vitamin C may be included in products intended to prevent or treat vitamin C deficiency.
Vitamin C is used in clinical nutrition products.
Vitamin C supports vitamin intake in enteral, parenteral, and specialized nutrition formulas.

Vitamin C is used in skin-care formulations.
Vitamin C supports products targeting brightness, antioxidant protection, and uneven skin tone appearance.
Vitamin C is used in facial serums.
Vitamin C helps improve the appearance of dullness and visible skin radiance.

Vitamin C is used in anti-aging cosmetic formulations.
Vitamin C supports products designed to improve the appearance of fine lines and environmental stress effects.
Vitamin C is used in moisturizers and creams.
Vitamin C helps support skin-care products focused on tone, texture, and antioxidant positioning.

Vitamin C is used in sunscreen and after-sun formulations.
Vitamin C supports antioxidant protection claims in daily skin-care systems.
Vitamin C is used in hair-care products.
Vitamin C helps support antioxidant and conditioning claims in selected formulations.

Vitamin C is used in laboratory reagent preparations.
Vitamin C serves as a reducing agent in analytical and biochemical applications.
Vitamin C is used in cell culture and biotechnology research.
Vitamin C can support specialized media and antioxidant-related experimental systems.

DESCRIPTION

Vitamin C is L-ascorbic acid, and Vitamin C acts as a reducing agent and antioxidant by donating electrons, which helps neutralize reactive oxygen species and protects sensitive molecules from oxidation.
Vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis, and this is why Vitamin C is associated with connective tissue support and skin health positioning in supplements.
Vitamin C is sensitive to oxygen, light, heat, and metal ions, and these factors accelerate oxidation to dehydroascorbic acid and further degradation products.

Vitamin C stability in formulations depends on pH and packaging, and low pH and air-tight, light-protective packaging can improve stability in aqueous systems.
Vitamin C can react with metal ions such as iron and copper, and chelating agents are often used in formulations to reduce metal-catalyzed oxidation.
Vitamin C should be used according to applicable food, supplement, or cosmetic regulations for the target market, including permitted claims and labeling rules.

Vitamin C powders should be stored in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry place to minimize oxidation and moisture uptake.
Vitamin C should be handled with dust control practices during bulk handling to reduce airborne particulate exposure.
Vitamin C should be protected from contamination and kept away from strong oxidizers.

Vitamin C is an essential water-soluble vitamin.
Vitamin C is commonly known as ascorbic acid.
Vitamin C is required for normal collagen formation in the body.
Vitamin C supports normal function of skin, cartilage, bones, blood vessels, and connective tissue.

Vitamin C participates in antioxidant defense systems.
Vitamin C helps regenerate other antioxidants in biological systems.
Vitamin C supports normal immune function.
Vitamin C contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.

Vitamin C is naturally found in citrus fruits, berries, peppers, leafy vegetables, and many other plant foods.
Vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy in severe cases.
Vitamin C is typically supplied as a white or almost white crystalline powder.
Vitamin C has an acidic taste and good water solubility.

Vitamin C may be supplied as ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, calcium ascorbate, or coated vitamin C depending on application.
Vitamin C is sensitive to oxygen, heat, light, moisture, and alkaline conditions.
Vitamin C stability depends on pH, temperature, packaging, processing method, and formulation environment.
Vitamin C quality may be defined by assay, appearance, loss on drying, impurities, and particle size.

Vitamin C should be stored in tightly closed containers.
Vitamin C should be protected from moisture, heat, light, and contamination.
Vitamin C should be handled according to food, feed, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic manufacturing standards.
Vitamin C should be used according to supplier specifications and applicable regulations.

Vitamin C dosage should be controlled carefully in nutritional and pharmaceutical applications.
Vitamin C is valued for its nutritional role, antioxidant activity, and reducing properties.
Vitamin C is important in supplements, fortified foods, beverages, animal feeds, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products.
Vitamin C is selected when ascorbic acid activity, vitamin C labeling, or antioxidant functionality is required.

PROPERTIES

Chemical Formula: C6H8O6
Molecular Weight: 176.12 g/mol
Common Name: Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Chemical Type: Water-soluble vitamin; antioxidant; reducing agent
Appearance: White to off-white crystalline powder
Odor: Odorless
Taste: Sour (food systems)
Solubility: Soluble in water
pH (1% solution): Acidic (typical)
Stability: Oxidizes with heat, light, oxygen, and metal ions; stability improves with low pH and protective packaging
Storage Temperature: 15–25°C, tightly closed, dry, protect from light
Shelf Life: Typically 24–60 months in original sealed packaging (supplier dependent)

FIRST AID

Inhalation:
Move to fresh air if dust is inhaled.
Seek medical attention if respiratory irritation persists.
Avoid breathing dust during powder handling.

Skin Contact:
Wash with soap and water after contact.
Remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse.
Seek medical advice if irritation develops or persists.

Eye Contact:
Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes.
Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do, then continue rinsing.
Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

Ingestion:
Rinse mouth with water.
Seek medical attention if discomfort occurs.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.

Note to Physicians:
Treat symptomatically.
For large ingestion, consider gastrointestinal irritation potential.
Provide supportive care as needed.

HANDLING AND STORAGE

Handling:
Use appropriate PPE including gloves and safety glasses for bulk handling.
Avoid generating dust and avoid inhalation of fine powder.
Use clean, dry equipment and minimize exposure to air during high-purity processing.

Ventilation:
Use general ventilation for normal handling.
Use local exhaust where dust may be generated during powder transfer.
Minimize airborne particulate accumulation in enclosed areas.

Storage:
Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry place.
Protect from light, heat, and moisture to reduce oxidation and maintain potency.
Keep away from metals or contaminants that can catalyze oxidation and away from strong oxidizers.

Spill and Leak Procedures:
Sweep up spilled powder and avoid dust generation.
Collect into suitable containers for reuse or disposal according to local regulations.
Clean residues with water if needed and dry the area to prevent slip hazards.

Handling Precautions:
Control exposure to oxygen and metals because Vitamin C oxidation reduces potency and can cause discoloration in formulations.
Optimize packaging and chelation strategies in solutions because aqueous Vitamin C is more prone to oxidation.
Rotate stock using FIFO practices to maintain consistent assay and antioxidant performance.