Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient for higher primates and a few other organisms. Ascorbic acid is metabolically produced in most organisms, but humans are the most notable exception. The most widely known is that a lack of vitamin C can cause scurvy. The pharmacophore of vitamin C is the ascorbic acid ion. In living organisms, vitamin C is as an antioxidant because it protects the body from the threat of oxidants, and vitamin C is also a coenzyme. Specifications: Appearance: White or almost white crystalline powder Identification: Positive Reaction Melting Point: About 190 pH Value(2% Aqueous Solution): 2.4-2.8 pH Value(5% Aqueous Solution): 2.1-2.6 Clarity of Solution: Clear Color of Solution: BY7 Copper(Cu): 5ppm Iron(Fe): 2ppm Heavy Metals: 10ppm Lead(Pb): 2ppm Arsenic(As): 3ppm Mercury(Hg): 0.1ppm Oxalic Acid: 0.2% Impurity E: 0.2% Loss on Drying: 0.4% Sulphate Ash(Residue on Ignition): 0.1% Specific Optical Rotation: +20.5 - +21.5 Residual Solvents: Meets the standard Assay: 99.0%-100.5%