Testing different fruit juices for the concentration of Vitamin C

Vitamin C, properly called ascorbic acid, is a nutrient that is essential for human health. Sufficient quantities of vitamin C are important not only for the immune system, but also for many other body systems whose functioning depends on the quality of nutrition we receive from fruit, vegetables and other types of food.

Grade 8 students conducted a lab experiment – determination of vitamin C concentration in different fruit juices by titration.

We tested for the concentration of vitamin C in freshly pressed tangerine juice and in the one that was pressed 12 hours earlier. We determined that the concentration is higher in the freshly pressed juice because vitamin C oxidizes, which reduces its concentration.

We also tested for the vitamin C concentration in commercially available fruit juices and determined that LIFE orange juice has the highest concentration of vitamin C.

The students enjoyed doing this experiment and learned a very useful chemical method.