Chemistry in a Shopping Trolley. Ascorbic acid Concentrations of fresh orange, fresh lemon, store-bought orange juice, store-bought lemon juice and a Berocca tablet

Scientific Study from the year 2016 in the subject Chemistry - Food Chemistry, grade: 12, , language: English, abstract: The concentration of Ascorbic acid in lemons, oranges, lemon juice, orange juice and a Berocca tablet were calculated to determine the best way to receive the recommended daily intake of Ascorbic acid. This experiment was conducted to decide the best source of Ascorbic acid for pregnant women, which is available from a supermarket. The concentrations were finalised by titrating the five substances and then calculating the concentration of Ascorbic acid. It was found that lemons had the highest concentration of Ascorbic acid, which was 0.6175mol/L. The fresh lemon was followed by the Berocca tablet, which had a concentration of 0.585mol/L, lemon juice with 0.5625mol/L, orange with 0.105mol/L, and finally orange juice, which had 0.095mol/L. While the lemon had the highest concentration, it was decided that fresh oranges were the best source of Ascorbic acid for pregnant women. These findings are significant because many pregnant women do not receive the recommended daily intake of Ascorbic acid, which has detrimental health impacts on themselves, and their child.

Platinum Griffith Graduate of Influence Award recipient Kassidy-Rose McMahon (B.Mus.) is a Brisbane-based music teacher with an inextinguishable passion for education.