L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C, CAS 50-81-7) molecular structure showing the γ-lactone ring and 2,3-enediol

Ascorbic Acid

CAS NO. 50-81-7

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Food Additive Water Treatment Pharmaceutical Product Biodegradability nutrition ingredients

Product Description

Applications

Parameter	Specification
Product Name	L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
CAS Number	50-81-7
EC Number	200-066-2
Molecular Formula	C₆H₈O₆
Molecular Weight	176.12 g/mol
Appearance	White or almost white crystalline powder
Solubility in Water (20 °C)	Freely soluble (approx. 333 g/L)
Assay (HPLC)	≥ 99.0%
pH (5% w/v)	2.1 – 2.6
Specific Rotation	+20.5° to +21.5°
Melting Point	approx. 190 °C (with decomposition)
Loss on Drying	≤ 0.1%
Residue on Ignition	≤ 0.1%
Heavy Metals (as Pb)	≤ 10 ppm
Copper (Cu)	≤ 5 ppm
Iron (Fe)	≤ 2 ppm
Total Plate Count	≤ 1000 cfu/g
E. coli	Negative
Salmonella	Negative
Standard Packaging	25 kg fiber drum, polyethylene-lined
Storage	Cool, dry, protected from light and oxidizing agents
Shelf Life	24 months from date of manufacture

Typical results shown above are representative of recent production lots; each shipment is supplied with a lot-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA).

Industrial Applications of L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C, CAS 50-81-7)

L-Ascorbic Acid (also known as Vitamin C or ácido ascórbico) is a water-soluble organic acid whose enediol structure gives it strong reducing activity. Beyond its well-known role in nutrition, it has a long industrial history as a reducing agent, oxygen scavenger, and pH-adjusting acid. Nexal Inc. distributes industrial-grade L-Ascorbic Acid (≥99.0% assay) for technical and manufacturing applications across North and Latin America.

• Water Treatment & Dechlorination

L-Ascorbic Acid reacts rapidly with free chlorine and chloramines, producing non-toxic byproducts. It has been used for decades as a dechlorination agent in water-treatment workflows where sulfite residues are undesirable, and as a sample-preservation reagent in environmental analysis.

End Products: Municipal effluent neutralization reagents, aquaculture and aquarium water conditioners, environmental sampling preservatives, drinking-water testing kits.

• Beverage and Brewing Antioxidant

As a textbook oxygen scavenger, L-Ascorbic Acid is widely referenced in brewing, juice, and wine processing literature for managing dissolved oxygen and oxidative changes. End users handling beverage applications should verify that the supplied lot meets the food-contact specifications applicable to their jurisdiction.

End Products: Brewery process aids, fruit-juice antioxidant blends, wine-processing additives, beverage premixes (subject to customer's own food-grade qualification).

• Industrial Reducing Agent and pH-Adjusting Acid

The reducing potential of the enediol functionality makes L-Ascorbic Acid a sulfite-free reducing-agent option in metal surface preparation, electroplating bath chemistry, and general inorganic and organic synthesis where a mild, water-soluble reductant is preferred. It also serves as an antioxidant additive and pH-adjusting acid in technical formulations across the coatings and specialty chemical industries.

End Products: Metal surface-treatment formulations, electroplating bath additives, technical-grade reducing-agent blends, antioxidant additives for industrial coatings.

Technical Note: L-Ascorbic Acid is sensitive to oxygen, light, heat, and trace metal ions (particularly copper and iron), which catalyze oxidative degradation in aqueous solution. For best storage stability, keep the material sealed, dry, and away from light; for solution applications, prepare fresh and consider chelating-agent compatibility within your formulation.