Does Vitamin C Contain the COOH Group? Unpacking the Chemistry of Ascorbic Acid
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4 min read
Ascorbic acid, commonly known as vitamin C, has the molecular formula $C_6H_8O_6$. The chemical name suggests an acidic nature, but its structure does not contain the traditional carboxyl group ($−COOH$) typically found in carboxylic acids. This raises a critical question for many chemistry and nutrition enthusiasts: if it's an 'acid' without a carboxyl group, what is responsible for its acidity?
