2006-06-30 05:26:46 · 9 answers · asked by Samuel H 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
An answer that could be explained to a lay-person, but can also desribe what happens on a molecular level would help the most.
What I'm most interested in is the why:
If the vitamen C is there why doesn't it just stay there?
Why does it leave?
Where does it go?
Is it happy there?
Is there something about the orange juice that vitamen C doesn't like?
Can they work it out?
Is it a lack of communication?
- that kinda thing.
Thanx!
seriously - why?
2006-06-30 05:44:56 · update #1
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is very happy in water. It has a problem with oxygen though. It reacts with it very easily (oxidation) and thus loses its vitamin properties. So the more you leave it open to air the more it is consumed.
In fact it is sometimes used as an anti-oxidant additive in food or supplements; oxygen can react with and "spoil" some nutrients. If you add vitamin C, oxygen will react with it instead.
2006-06-30 09:10:27 · answer #1 · answered by bellerophon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Acsorbic acid (vitamin C) is fragile and reacts readily with oxygen in the air. This is why orange juice exposed to air loses some of its vitamin C content.
2006-06-30 12:33:27 · answer #2 · answered by BeC 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
orange juice looses some or all of its vitamen C if left open to the air because it contains water and water if kept open will evaporate so juice will evaporate as well
2006-06-30 15:54:48 · answer #3 · answered by The best 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Vitamin C is the most easily destroyed vitamin there is. It is destroyed by oxygen, heat (above 70 degrees)"
So, leaving it out will raise the temperature and the oxygen will break down the vitamin content. Keep it tight and refrigerated.
2006-06-30 12:32:01 · answer #4 · answered by dullguy2001 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vitamin C degrades over time, and it will degrade faster if heated. So, it is going to lose some of it's vitamin C even if it is in the fridge. If it is in open air, it will just lose more faster than if in the fridge.
2006-06-30 12:30:13 · answer #5 · answered by q2003 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
uh not really. vitamin c is water soluble so if all the water but even if it evaporates some will be left behind. it might oxidize, but the body rearranges things to what it needs. it might degrade if you heat it, but that takes time.
2006-06-30 12:30:38 · answer #6 · answered by shiara_blade 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually yes, vitamin C gets evaporated and reacts with air and thus it is lost
2006-06-30 15:16:45 · answer #7 · answered by little_mad_cherry 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely possible threw sublimation.
2006-06-30 12:34:31 · answer #8 · answered by Knock Knock 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can do!
2006-06-30 12:30:07 · answer #9 · answered by afromosa 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋