Academia La MilagrosaNatural Science Department
Science Fair
Title:The level of Vitamin C in the orange juice
Noel G. Meléndez Rivera11-1
Prof. Maribel Hiraldo
Abstract
The purpose of this project was to investigate if the orange juices had the same level of
vitamin C. The hypothesis was that not all brands of orange juice have the same level
of vitamin C. The samples was choose are; five different orange juices (#1-natural
orange juice, #2- orange juice powder, #3-orange juice, #4 orange juice and #5 orange
juice) and one vitamin C (last one as control group). Used the iodine (12) and starch
pellets (starch solution) to oxidize the vitamin C.
In this investigation, observed when iodine reacted with starch the iodine/starch
mixtures becomes a dark blue. However, when vitamin C reacted with iodine, the
iodine changed to another form that doesn’t starch blue. By adding drops of a test
solution that contains vitamin C to the five different orange juices to the cups of
iodine/starch mixture, changed the iodine to the form that does not turn starch blue.
Orange juice #1 turned light orange, orange juice powder #2 turned orange, orange
juice #5 turned light blue and #3 and #4 turned gray.
The test reveals the vitamin C tablets contained the highest vitamin C relative amounts
followed by orange juice #1 and orange juice powder #2 solution. The orange juice #5,
orange juice #3 and orange juice #4, contains fewer vitamins C. These results showed
the natural orange juice #1 and orange juice powder #2 is more significant soured of
vitamin C in comparison to orange juice #3 and orange juice 4.
In conclusion, the observations of the iodine/starch solution proved that orange juices
brands do not have the same level of vitamin C. The hypothesis was acceptable
because the test demonstrated that all of orange juice brands contained different levels
of vitamin C.
Index
Page
Background……………………………………………………………...1-2
Problem…………………………………………………………………...3
Hypothesis……………………………………………………………….4
Materials…………………………………………………………………..5
Procedure………………………………………………………………...6
Observations/Table……………………………………………………..7
Results-Graph…………………………………………………………...8
Analysis…………………………………………………………………..9
Photos …………………………………………………………………10-12
Conclusion……………………………………………………………...13
Application………………………………………………………………14
Projection………………………………………………………………..15
References………………………………………………………………16
Background
Vitamin C is a very important supplements that all of humans needs because is a water-
soluble vitamin that is necessary for normal growth and development. Water-soluble
vitamins dissolve in water. Leftover amounts of the vitamin leave the body through the
urine. That means you need a continuous supply of such vitamins in your diet.
This vitamin is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It is
used to form an important protein used to make skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood
vessels; Heal wounds and form scar tissue; Repair and maintain cartilage, bones, and
teeth.
Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants. They are nutrients that block some of the
damage caused by free radicals. The buildup of free radicals over time is largely
responsible for the aging process. Free radicals may play a role in cancer, heart
disease, and conditions like arthritis.
The body is no able to make vitamin C on its own, and it does not store vitamin C. It is
therefore important to include plenty of vitamin C-containing foods in your daily diet. For
many years, vitamin C has been a popular remedy for the common cold. Research
shows that for most people, vitamin C supplements or vitamin or vitamin C-rich foods do
not reduce the risk of getting the common cold. However, people who take vitamin C
supplements regularly might have slightly shorter colds or somewhat milder symptoms.
All fruits and vegetables contain some amount of vitamin C. Foods that are the highest
sources of vitamin C include: citrus fruits and juices, such as orange and grapefruit,
kiwi fruit, mango, papaya, pineapple, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries,
watermelon. Vegetables that are the highest sources of vitamin C include: broccoli,
Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, green and red peppers among others. Some cereals and
other foods and beverages are fortified with vitamin C. Fortified means a vitamin or
mineral has been added to the food. Cooking vitamin C-rich foods or storing them for a
long period of time can reduce the vitamin C content. Microwaving and steaming
vitamin C-rich foods may reduce cooking losses.
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The best food sources of vitamin C are uncooked or raw fruits and vegetables.
Actually the people take care more about health. One of the insights research is check
the product labels to see how much vitamin C is in the product. The research also
showed that 59% eat breakfast with glass of orange juice in the company of her family.
A lot us are so used to having orange juice on the breakfast table that we often just take
it for granted. All over the world, scientists and experts agree on how beneficial orange
juice is to our health.
This investigation wants to verify the level of vitamin C that orange juice has. We will
use iodine (12) to oxidize the vitamin C. When all the ascorbic acid has been oxidized,
iodine excess reacts with starch indicator to form the characteristic iodine-starch
complex dark blue. This procedure can determine the mass (mg) of vitamin C per
milliliter of fruit drink.
The mayor brands of orange juice shows in a big letters that is 100% vitamin C. Finally
will investigate what of this brand said the truth about the level of vitamin C.
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Problem
Does all of the orange juice brands have the same level of vitamin C?
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Hypothesis
Not all of the orange juice brands will have the same level of
vitamin C
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Materials
4 starch pellets
Water
Coffee filter
Orange juice #1 (not fortified)
Orange juice #2
Orange juice #3
Orange juice #4
Orange juice #5
Vitamin C tablet
Tincture of iodine solution
Plastic cups (two 8 oz. and ten 3 oz)
Set of measuring spoons
Dropper
Measuring cup (1/2 cup)
Marker pen
Labels
Photographic camera
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Procedure
1. Make a solution by adding 1 teaspoon of tincture of iodone to 1 tablespoon of water.
2. Use the two 8 cups to make the cups to make the starch solution: Dissolver 4 starch
pellets in ½ cup of water. Set up a coffee filter in the other cup. Pour the starch
solutions through the filter. Label this cup “starch solution”.
3. Label six of the 3 oz. plastic cups “vitamin C test”, orange juice #1 test, orange juice
#2 test, orange juice #3 test, orange juice #4 test, orange juice #5. Add 1
tablespoon of starch solution to each cup.
4. Now add 1 drop of the iodine solution to each labeled test cup.
5. Label a 3 oz cup “vitamin C solution”. Crush the vitamin C tablet, and put it in the
cup with two tablespoon of water and stir.
6. Make the orange juice #2 by mixing ¾ teaspoon of powder to 2 tablespoons of
water in a 3oz. you have labeled orange juice #2 and stir.
7. Label 3oz. cup orange juice and pour 2 tablespoons of orange juice into it. Repeat
the same with others orange juices.
8. Fill dropper with vitamin C solution, and add 1 drop into the cup marked “vitamin C
test” and swirl. Observe what happens . Count how many drops of vitamin C
solution needs to the cup to make contents of the cup turn colorless.
9. Repeat the procedure 8 to the rest of the others oranges juices.
10.Record the results.
Hint: The test solution that required the fewer drops had the most vitamin C, and
The test solution that required the most drops had the least vitamin C.
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Observations/Table
Table 1: Vitamin C Drops Record
Item Drops of Vitamin A added
Vitamin C 6
Orange Juice #1 10
Orange Juice #2 12
Orange Juice #3 51
Orange Juice #4 65
Orange Juice #5 28
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Graph 1: Drops of Vitamin C
Vitamin C Orange Juice #1
Orange Juice #2
Orange Juice #5
Orange Juice #3
Orange Juice#4
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
610
12
28
51 650Drops of Vitamin C Added
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Analysis
According to table 1, the vitamin C tablets contained the highest vitamin C relative
amounts. The natural orange juice #1 is the solution that contains more vitamin C
follow by orange juice #2 solution. The orange juice #5, orange juice #3 and orange
juice#4 solution contains fewer vitamins C. These brands are more commercialize than
Natural Orange Juice as a result more sellers to include in a daily family diet. Based on
results obtained the research can infer the natural orange #1 and orange juice #2 could
be use more frequently to treat the common cold than commercialize brands.
The graph 1 shows the ranking of vitamin C drops. Observe the light difference
between Natural Orange Juice and Orange Juice #2. They have similarities in the level
of vitamin C. Orange juice #5 is in the middle of the relative amounts of vitamin C,
between Orange Juice #2 and Orange Juice #3. Orange Juice #3 and Orange Juice #4
have packaging impress “100% pure orange juice and 120% vitamin C” and they were
the juices with less vitamin C. This is not supported for the results obtained by this
experimentation. These results proved the Natural Orange Juice #1 and Orange Juice
#2 have more significant source of vitamin C in comparison with Orange Juice #3 and
Orange Juice#4.
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Photos
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Conclusion
This project pretends to investigate if all of the different orange juice brands have the
same level of vitamin C. The observations using the iodine/starch solution prove that
orange juice brands do not have the same level of vitamin C. The hypothesis is
acceptable because the test demonstrate that all of orange juice brands contain
different levels of vitamin C.
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Projection
In the future I will realized the same procedure, but I will take in mind the selected juice;
viewing all other nutritional tables information percent and the amount of vitamin C.
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Application
I can apply this work “The level of vitamin C in orange juice” with predetermination
selecting the high level of sugar. In addition, high levels of sugar can affect us our
heath in the near future.
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References
Allen, K. (2011). The “Testing Vitamin C-Chemistry’s Clear Solution”. ACS Chemistry
for Life, 8-9.
Evert ,A. (2011). Vitamin C. US National library of medicine, 4.
Makris, M. (April 11, 2011). The health benefits of vitamin C go well beyond a stronger
immune system. Natural News.
Sarubin Fragaakis A, Thomson C. The Health Professional’s Guide to Popular Dietary
Supplements. 3rd ed. Chicago, II: American Dietetic Association; 2007
Suiza Premium. (2010). Orange Juice Research. San Juan, Puerto Rico.
USDA. (n.d.). Ciencia para Niños. Retrieved October 10, 2011, from ideas para
Proyectos agrícolas de feria cientifica.
www.ars.usda.gov/español/kids/fair/sp.ideasframe.htm
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