Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Simply that! Why is vitamin C, or other vitamins for that matter, so heat sensitive? As in why are they destroyed very easily when exposed to heat? I would really like the answer soon please if possible; starting the experiment next week! Thanks

Hello and welcome to the forums.

This seems like a very good question to start your science project with! Have you tried a web search? I did, and I found lots of (mis) information on the first page of results, but things start to look better the farther you go into the search (pages 2, 3, etc.) Try it!

This article seems to start you in the right direction: http://www.netsci-journal.com/97v4/97014/vitc2.html One thing it says is

Vitamin C is readily oxidized, especially in aqueous solutions, by reacting with atmospheric oxygen, and behaves as a two-electron donor

There are some good suggestions on the web for experiments, including Science Buddies web site. I found this thread on SB that gives some good advice: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ?f=3&t=954

Have fun!
Keith

Thanks heaps for the information! It was really helpful