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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