Name: ____________________________________________________________ Period: _______

Titration of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) with Lugol’s Iodine Solution Lab

Introduction:
Vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is found in many fruits and vegetables. Your body needs vitamin C to promote the
absorption of iron, for the formation of red blood cells, and for the formation of connective tissue. people who are
deficient in vitamin C often develop a condition called scurvy, whic results in tender skin, bleeding gums, and swollen
joints. Iodine solution reacts with vitamin C to form colorless products according to the following equation:
I2 + C6H8O6 ---> C6H6O6 + 2H+ + 2I-
When starch is added to an iodine solution, a deep blue color is observed. If a solution containing vitamin C
(ascorbic acid, C6H8O6) and a small amount of starch is titrated with the iodine solution, the solution will remain colorless
until all of the vitamin C has been oxidized. Then, when all of the vitamin C has reacted, the solution will turn blue if
more iodine is added. Many fruit juices contain vitamin C. In this experiment you will use the reaction above to determine
the concentration of vitamin C in a number of fruit juices.

Purpose: To learn to titrate using an endpoint indicator other than

phenopthalein.

Objectives:
• Standardize the concentration of an iodine solution by
calibrating it against vitamin C stock solution.
• Determine the concentration of Vitamin C in a fruit juice by
titration with Lugol’s iodine solution.

Materials:
Buret Clamp and Stand Waste Beaker Vitamin C stock solution
Buret and Stopcock Lugol’s Iodine Solution Juice Containing Vitamin C
250 mL Erlenmeyer Flask 1% Starch Solution Water

Procedure –
DAY 1
1. Put on your lab apron and safety goggles.
2. Set up ring stand with buret clamp and buret.
3. Rinse buret with deionized water and Lugol’s Solution (if not already filled with Lugol’s)
4. Fill buret with Lugol’s Iodine Solution to between the 0 and 5 mL marks. Record volume to the hundredth’s
place (Ex: 10.25 mL not 10 mL) in Data Table 1.
5. Using a volumetric pipet, measure out 10 mL of the Vitamin C stock solution and add it to flask.
6. Add ~25 mL of water to flask.
7. ADD 5 DROPS of Starch Solution to your flask.
8. Using the stopcock, slowly add the Lugol’s Iodine from the buret to the flask while swirling until a blue color
appears and stays for at least 15 seconds.
9. Read the volume on the buret and record volume in Data Table 1.
10. Pour out contents of flask in sink and rinse flask out well with tap water.
11. Refill buret with Lugol’s Solution if needed (You DO NOT have to pour out the old solution).
12. Repeat steps 3 – 8 until you have performed a total of 3 good titrations
13. Clean up your lab station and equipment. WASH YOUR HANDS.
DAY 2
1. Put on your lab apron and safety goggles.
2. Repeat general titration procedure from Day 1 to determine the concentration of Vitamin C in your juice
sample with the below modifications.
3. Using a graduated cylinder, measure out 25 mL of the fruit juice and add it to flask.
4. Repeat titration for 3 good titrations.
5. Return all equipment to where it belongs (if not your bin) and clean your lab station.
6. Wash your hands.
Data:
Data Table 1: Standardization of Lugol’s Solution
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4

1 Final Volume (mL)

2 Initial Volume (mL)

3 Volume of Lugol’s Iodine (mL)

Volume of Vitamin C Stock
4 Solution (mL)

Data Table 2: Determination of Vitamin C concentration of a Fruit Juice

Type of Jucie:__________________________________

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4

1 Final Volume (mL)

2 Initial Volume (mL)

3 Volume of Lugol’s Iodine (mL)

4 Volume of Juice (mL)

Calculations:
1. Calculate the concentration of the Vitamin C Stock Solution. (Express answer in mg/mL)
1 g = 1,000 mg 1 L = 1,000 mL

2. Calculate the average volume of Lugol’s Iodine Solution used to titrate the Vitamin C solution (Data Table 1)

3. Based on the average volume of Lugol’s used for the Vitamin C titration (Data Table 1) and the concentration of
the Vitamin C solution, calculate the number of mg of Vitamin C titrated by 1 mL of Lugol’s Iodine solution.

(Volume of Vitamin C)·(Concentration of Vitamin C in mg/mL)

(Average Volume of Lugol’s Iodine Solution Used)

4. Calculate the average volume of Lugol’s Iodine Solution used to titrate your juice sample (Data Table 2)

5. Using the average volume of Lugol’s used for your juice titration (Data Table 1) and the number of mg of Vitamin
C titrated by 1 mL of Lugol’s Iodine solution (your answer from #4), calculate the number of mg of Vitamin C that
were in your juice sample.

(Average Volume of Lugol’s Iodine Solution Used) · (mg of Vitamin C titrated by 1 mL of Lugol’s)

6. Calculate the concentration of Vitamin C in your juice sample. Give your answer in mg/mL.

(mg of Vitamin C) .
(mL of Juice Used)