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Determination of amount of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) from supplied

commercial tablets by using Iodometric titration.

Experiment Findings · March 2016

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Determination of amount of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) from
supplied Drug by using Iodometric titration.

Mohammed sohel Chowdhury1*, Akib Ahmed1 , Md. Ridwanul Hoque1 , Anis Rahman1 , Saied ul
hoque saied1 , Hafez Md. Humayon Kabir ealahe1
1.
Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; [email protected]

Abstract: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid, ascorbate, AA) is a water soluble organic compound that
participates in many biological processes and the most common electroactive biological compound found
in some fruit species. It is the most widely taken nutritional supplement world-wide. The present study
aims to comparatively correlate the amount of vitamin C with the aforementioned label on the container.
According to Bangladesh National Formulary Ascorbic acid by the Company ACI Limited with a
brand name Nutrivit® C claims the tablet consists of 250 mg of Ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is sold without
prescription and as an over-the-counter drug; the drug content was analyzed using iodometric titration
method based on an oxidation-reduction reaction between vitamin C and iodine. The content of vitamin C
in the tablets was found to be different than the manufacturer’s specification in the prospectus with 8.46%
less than that of demanded amount. The assay was conducted by different group testing with different
Brand of Ascorbic acid; the chart mentioning four individual company is statistically represented.

Keywords: Ascorbic acid, Vitamin C, Iodometric titration, Tablet dosage form

1. INTRODUCTION

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is essential for human life and is required for a range of
physiological functions in human body. It can be found either in fresh fruits and vegetables
naturally or in medical forms such as normal tablets, effervescent tablets and liquid vials. It is
the most widely taken supplement. Though daily requirements of vitamin C are changeable
according to the age, sex and conditions, it is around 75 to 90 mg per day for healthy adults and
no more than 2000mg per day is recommended1. It is one of the most ubiquitous vitamins ever
discovered. Besides plays a paramount role as an antioxidant and free radical scavenger, it has been
suggested to be an effective antiviral agent2. In addition, ascorbic acid has been widely used in the
pharmaceutical, chemical, cosmetic and food industry as antioxidant. Therefore, there is a need to find an
accurate, reliable, rapid, and easy-to implement method for measuring the amount of ascorbic acid in a
sample. However, there have been difficulties in quantifying ascorbic acid due to its instability in aqueous
solution. The instability of ascorbic acid is due to its oxidation to dehydroascorbic acid, which is a
reversible reaction, and subsequently to 2,3-diketo-L-gulonic acid. The later reaction is irreversible3.

Figure 1: Chemical structure of vitamin C

Ascorbic acid is a water soluble vitamin with molecular weight of 176.12 g/mol and melting point of
193˚C. World-wide accepted daily requirement of ascorbic acid is about 60–95 mg4. Ascorbic acid is a
reducing agent which reverses the oxidation in aqueous solution. Increased amounts of free radicals
trigger the condition called oxidative stress which is kept under control by antioxidants. If there are not
enough antioxidants some stress related diseases including hypertension, atherosclerosis, chronic
inflammatory diseases and diabetes might occur. The following Iodometric titration is performed and the
amount of vitamin C was evaluated in given tablet using iodometric titration method. In this method the
reaction between iodine and starch suspension, will indicate the endpoint by producing the blue-black
product. The tri-iodide ions are quickly converted into iodide ions when ascorbic acid is present.
However, when all of the ascorbic acid is oxidized, the excess iodide will react with starch and will result
in blue-black color.

2. METHODS

Equipment and apparatus

Volumetric flask 250.00 ml (± 0.01 ml)

Beaker 500.00 ml (± 0.01 ml), 500.00 ml (± 0.01 ml), 100 ml (± 0.01 ml)

Burette 50.00 ml (± 0.01 ml)

Graduated cylinder 50.00 ml (± 0.01 ml)

Erlenmeyer flask 250.00 ml (± 0.01 ml), Erlenmeyer flask 250.00 ml

Potassium iodide (KI) 15.00g (± 0.001 g)

Iodine powder 5g

Balance

Starch powder 0.25g

Distilled water

Heater

Glass rod

Vitamin C tablet (ACI Limited - Nutrivit® C)

Variables and constants

Constants
Temperature: 25-26 ºC (measured with electronic thermometer)

Sun light (direct sunlight damages the structure of vitamin C)

Independent Variable
Unknown amount of vitamin C in solution.
Dependent Variable
The amount of iodate solution used to reach the end point of reaction between vitamin C and

iodate.

3. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
Ascorbic acid is determined by using an oxidation-reduction reaction. The solubility of iodine
is increased with iodide and tri-iodide is occurred:

I2 (aq) + I↔ I3 –
I3 - then oxidizes vitamin C to dehydroascorbic acid:
C6H8O6 + I3 + H2O  C6H6O6 + 3I- + 2H+

Vitamin C dehydroascorbic acid

The endpoint is production of a blue-black color which occurs as a result of the reaction of
iodine with starch suspension. When ascorbic acid is present, I3 is converted to iodide and no
color change is observed. However, when all ascorbic acid was utilized, expected blue-black
color occurs due to the reaction between starch and excess tri-iodide.
This titration procedure is widely accepted and is appropriate for testing the amount of
vitamin C in the tablets, liquids and fruits and vegetables.

1. Preparation of iodine solution

For preparation of 0.1 M iodine solution, 10g of KI was taken in a 250 ml Volumetric flask and
35 ml of distilled water was added followed by heating the solution; the mixture was cooled to
room temperature and 3.15 g of solid Iodine powder was dissolved.
Similarly, to prepare 0.005M of iodine solution 2g of KI was taken in a 500 ml beaker and
dissolving in 100 ml of distilled water and 1.3 g of iodine powder was stirred with small quantity
of water and qs (quantum satis) to 1 liter.
2. Preparation of starch solution
Addition of 0.25 g of starch powder in 50ml warm distilled water, As the starch is insoluble in
cold water and needs to be boiled to stay in solution.
3. Preparation of vitamin C standard solution
25mg Ascorbic acid was taken in a 100.00 ml beaker and dissolved in 100 ml distilled water.
4. Preparation of Vitamin C sample solution
From the strip of Vitamin C random two tablets were weighed and smashed to form powder and
average value was calculated.
Weight of two tablets = 1.67g
Average = 1.67/2 = 835 mg
250 mg Ascorbic acid tablet has equivalent weight of = 835 mg
100mg Ascorbic acid tablet has equivalent weight of = 167*2 mg
= 334 mg
334 mg of the powder tablet was taken in a 100.00 ml beaker and dissolved in 100 ml distilled
water.
5. Standardization of the iodine solution with the vitamin C standard solution and sample
solution.
The measured volume of 20ml of both standard and sample was taken from each solution and
equilibrated with 150 ml distilled water separately into distinct two Erlenmeyer flask 250.00 ml and
titrant containing iodine solution was run against analyte containing either sample or standard; 5-6 drops
of prepared starch solution were added to the analyte and titration was started.
The burette level for each analyte for distinctive experiment was noted as mentioned below:
For standard solution the volume of iodine solution required for complete reaction = 45 ml
Equally, for Sample solution the volume of iodine solution required = 49 ml

The endpoint was noted when analyte appears blue in color.

4. CALCULATION
For sample solution
In the beginning of the experiment 20 ml of sample was taken from 100 ml of prepared solution
containing 100 mg of Ascorbic acid. As 49 ml of iodine is required for the color change containing 20 ml
ascorbic acid solution, the dilution was done 5 times to that of the solution.
Hence, the final volume of the iodine solution = 49× 5
= 245 ml

1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 1000𝑚𝑙
Mole iodine = Mass Ascorbic acid × ×
176.12𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑐 𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑒
 1000
M iodine = 0.1g × 1/176.12 × 245 𝑚𝑙

= 0.00231 mol

For standard solution

Mass Ascorbic acid = Mole iodine × Volume of iodine × 176.12
= 0.00231 × 45 × 176.12
= 91.54 mg

Initially, the amount of Ascorbic acid was taken for 100mg and therefore for total amount of ascorbic acid
i.e. 250 mg the ratio stands out to be 2.5 (250/100)

5. RESULT
Therefore, a 250 mg tablet of ascorbic acid from the ACI LIMITED (Nutrivit® C) contain = 2.5 × 91.54
= 228.85 mg
Amount of Ascorbic acid in ACI LIMITED (Nutrivit® C) is 8.46% less than the claimed value.

A relationship among the pharmaceutical companies listed can be illustrated with a bar chart.
The default amount of Ascorbic acid for all the companies in a tablet dosage form is 250mg

Pharmaceutical Company Brand Name Amount of Ascorbic Reduced amount

acid (mg) (%)
ACI LIMITED Nutrivit® C 228.85 8.46
Opsonin Vasco 248 0.8
ACME Cecon 232.9 6.84
BEXIMCO Ascobex 220 12%
 ASCORBIC ACID ASSAY
250 Prospectus calculated

250

250

250
248
232.9
228.85

220
ACI LIMITED ACME OPSONIN BEXIMCO

Figure 2: Amount of Vitamin C (mg) and deviation from the prospectus (mg)

The above result clearly states that the Vitamin C from the Opsonin has the demanded and stated
amount mentioned on the packaging label.
1

6. CONCLUSION
The iodometric titration performed on these dosage form of Vitamin C concerning different
Pharmaceutical industry was analogous and the error regarding experimental procedure is
negligible and ambience was satisfactory. Hence, the calculation acquired is acceptable which
states among the four pharmaceutical companies Opsonin has the nearest claimed amount to that
of prospectus and Vasco be considered prominent supplement for vitamin C (Ascorbic acid).

1
Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids: consensus report. Institute of
Medicine of the National Academies. (www.iom.edu. Retrieved: 30th November 2009)
2
W. Zeng, F. Martnuzzi, A. MacGregor, J. Pharm. and Biomed. Anal., 36 (2005)1107
3
http://www.chemistry.wustl.edu/~edudev/LabTutorials/Vitamins/images/Ascorbate.jpg> retrieved: 19
November 2009
4
Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids: consensus report. Institute of
Medicine of the National Academies. (www.iom.edu. Retrieved: 30th November 2009)

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