West Ujimqin Banner, Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, China sales9@alchemist-chem.com 1531585804@qq.com
Follow us:



Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid): Material Description and Properties

What is Vitamin C VC?

Vitamin C, known scientifically as L-ascorbic acid, takes on many roles in both the body and industry. It stands as a vital raw material for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products because of its function as an antioxidant and its well-documented support of immune function. The molecule itself contains six carbon atoms, eight hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms, giving it the chemical formula C6H8O6. In industry and research, this compound goes by its HS Code 293627, which streamlines international trade and ensures regulatory compliance.

Products and Structure

Vitamin C VC appears in several physical forms, each tailored by its production and use. In manufacturing, it comes as a crystalline powder, often gleaming white or off-white, and resembles fine salt or sugar granules. Flakes and pearls offer a different feel, sometimes required in compounding where humidity and dispersal matter. Ascorbic acid stands as a solid at room temperature. Larger, transparent crystals can sometimes arrive in laboratory shipments, serving as a reminder that each form slightly alters how the material dissolves or interacts with its surroundings. The density of the solid, listed at about 1.65 g/cm³, tells you how tightly the molecules pack and helps when figuring out how much to use or mix in a formulation. In solutions, vitamin C mixes well in water, creating a clear, acidic liquid prized for its role as a preservative or acidity regulator.

Specifications and Molecular Details

Because vitamin C’s molecular structure includes several hydroxyl groups, it dissolves readily in water and tastes distinctly sour. Its chemical makeup empowers it to act as a reducing agent, which means it can donate electrons and fend off oxidation—a key benefit in both digestive health and food preservation. Commercial vitamin C often arrives with purity above 99%, and industrial analysts use titration and chromatography to confirm this. Its melting point sits at about 190–192°C, while heat and exposure to light or air can steadily degrade its value. Flakes and granules of vitamin C differ only in size and surface characteristics, useful for choosing the right form for tablets, powders, or drinks.

Chemical Safety: Safe, Hazardous, Harmful?

L-ascorbic acid usually rates as safe for human consumption. It serves as a trusted part of daily nutrition, recommended in values set by health authorities across the globe. Handling the pure chemical, though, brings some responsibility. Contact with eyes or skin may irritate, and breathing in the dust can cause coughing or short-term irritation. People who have spent a lot of time in laboratories know to wear safety glasses and gloves, clean spills thoroughly, and avoid creating airborne dust. Labels on vitamin C shipments follow standards outlined by GHS and local authorities. The compound itself breaks down into harmless byproducts under normal environmental conditions, and it carries no hazardous waste designation according to most chemical safety codes. Larger than recommended doses of oral vitamin C can produce mild gastrointestinal symptoms, so product-makers stick to established nutritional guidelines. No special measures for fire, reactivity, or chronic exposure beyond standard laboratory precautions exist.

Molecular and Physical Properties

Vitamin C’s solid form feels dry and light, slips between your fingers easily, and brings a sharp acidic scent. In water, it dissolves fast, turning into a tangy, clear solution. Its density and ability to pack together into different forms means engineers and food scientists get a flexible ingredient. The melting point—approaching about 190°C—means the powder can be mixed into hot drinks and food up to a point, but heat eventually breaks it down, so cold preparation often works better for maximum potency. Because ascorbic acid undergoes oxidation quickly under exposure to air and light, packaging in opaque, air-tight containers keeps its punch for months, sometimes longer. In large-scale processes and in the lab, accurate weighing and knowing the material’s specific gravity keeps everything on target, whether the users are mixing drinks, creating supplements, or checking product purity.

Formulations: Flakes, Powder, Liquid, Solution, Pearls, Crystal

The market provides vitamin C in several forms for practical reasons. Powder fits most home and lab needs. Manufacturers use granules or pearls when they want more precise flow or controlled release in tablets. Flakes, a bit larger and less dusty than powder, suit bulk processes where ease of handling matters more than rapid dissolution. Crystals bring purity for analytics and chemistry work. In solution, vitamin C proves especially useful in products demanding rapid blending or immediate antioxidant effect. Its ability to mix cleanly into water but resist blending into oils matters for certain cosmetics, drinks, and supplements. Each form carries slightly different bulk density, which means packaging lines and dispensing machines need calibration for each batch or format shift.

Raw Materials and Quality Considerations

Every batch of ascorbic acid starts from glucose, most often derived from corn, wheat, or potatoes. The transformation from simple sugar to vitamin C requires fermentation, which produces raw 2-keto-L-gulonic acid before a final chemical conversion to the end molecule. Finished vitamin C requires filtration, crystallization, and drying, processes which safeguard purity and prevent contamination. Those who work with food ingredients know to source materials with transparent supply chain records, batch certifications, and third-party testing. Quality control staff use highly specific laboratory assays, including HPLC and titration, to confirm purity and rule out heavy metals or residual solvents. HS Code 293627 unlocks smooth trade, but big users know to ask for up-to-date certificates and detailed material safety data sheets, so there’s never a doubt about what they’re receiving.

Material Handling: Storage, Density, Packaging

Proper storage makes a big difference in final product quality and shelf life. Vitamin C decomposes if left open, exposed to heat or humidity. For best results, the compound belongs in sealed, light-resistant containers, placed in a cool, dry spot. Factories moving many tons each year keep granular or powdered vitamin C in heavy-duty drums, sometimes lined with food-grade liners. Retail customers get opaque bottles, wide-mouth jars, or single-dose packets. Density matters as bulk volume affects how raw materials move through pipelines or augers, and how much fits in a given bin or container.

Safe Use and Environmental Impact

Vitamin C wins points for safety and low environmental risk. Workers respect the dust, wear appropriate personal protective equipment, and wash up after a shift. Because the molecule’s breakdown follows natural pathways, waste from spilled or expired material poses no special threat. Massive releases to waterways could reduce local pH, but this risk remains minimal under normal use. Disposal in most jurisdictions calls for routine trash or sewer, as confirmed by local environmental authorities.