Vitamin C Content in Citrus Juices: A Comparative Analysis
Discussion
The results demonstrate that orange juice has a higher vitamin C content per unit volume compared to lemon and lime juices. Orange juice exhibited the highest ascorbic acid concentration at 0.319 M, while lemon juice had a similar concentration at 0.319 M. Lime juice had the lowest concentration at 0.277 M. These findings support the hypothesis that oranges possess the highest vitamin C content and align with previous studies confirming this observation.
While concordant titers enhanced the precision and accuracy of the results, several potential sources of error warrant consideration. The use of measuring cylinders, which lack precise calibration, may have introduced inaccuracies. To mitigate this, graduated pipettes could be employed for volume measurements. Additionally, vitamin C’s susceptibility to oxidation upon exposure to air might have led to its degradation during storage. Conducting the experiment in a single session or storing juices in airtight containers could minimize this effect. Furthermore, rinsing the burette with only distilled water, rather than both water and iodine solution, may have overestimated the iodine volume, impacting subsequent calculations. Rinsing with both solutions would ensure accurate iodine concentration. Finally, conducting the titration single-handedly may have introduced personal errors, such as difficulty in simultaneously observing color change and controlling the burette tap. Employing two experimenters could improve accuracy.
Addressing Potential Errors
- Measuring Cylinders: Replace with graduated pipettes for accurate volume measurements.
- Air Exposure: Conduct experiments in one session or store juices in airtight containers.
- Burette Rinsing: Rinse with both distilled water and iodine solution to maintain accurate iodine concentration.
- Single Experimenter: Utilize two experimenters for precise titration control and observation.
Conclusion
This experiment successfully confirmed that orange juice contains more vitamin C per unit volume than lemon and lime juices. The common advice to consume orange juice during illness holds merit, as oranges are rich in vitamin C, which supports immune function. While lemons and limes are good sources of vitamin C, oranges prove to be the optimal choice among these three juices. Based on these results, the daily recommended intake of 90mg of vitamin C could be achieved by consuming 175ml of orange juice.
Although these results indicate that oranges have the highest vitamin C content among the tested juices, a broader conclusion about all fruit juices requires further investigation. Expanding the experiment to include various fruit juices would provide a more comprehensive understanding of vitamin C content across different sources.