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Vitamins and nutraceutical actives

L-Ascorbic acid

Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C, L(+)-Ascorbic acid

CAS 50-81-7Formula C6H8O6Molar mass 176.12 g/molEC 200-066-2
732 suppliers listed Drug substance
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L-Ascorbic acid chemical structure, C6H8O6, CAS 50-81-7
2D chemical structure

Key facts

What buyers check first

All properties
Appearance
Crystals (usually plates, sometimes needles, monoclinic system)
Melting point
190 to 192
Density
1.65 g/cm³ at 25 °C
Solubility
1 g dissolves in about 3 ml of water.
HS code
293627
Category
Vitamins and nutraceutical actives
Illustrative photo, a shrink wrapped pallet of kraft paper sacks in a chemical plant
Typical packagingIllustrative packaging image, not the actual product

What is L-Ascorbic acid?

Plain description, key identifiers and synonyms

L-ascorbic acid is the L-enantiomer of ascorbic acid and conjugate acid of L-ascorbate. It has a role as a geroprotector, a coenzyme, a cofactor, a flour treatment agent, a plant metabolite, a food antioxidant, a food colour retention agent and a skin lightening agent. It is a vitamin C and an ascorbic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a L-ascorbate. It is an enantiomer of a D-ascorbic acid.

L-Ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin and antioxidant essential for collagen synthesis, immune function, and skin brightening.

Identifiers

Registry numbers, names and line notations, tap to copy

IUPAC name
(2R)-2-[(1S)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl]-3,4-dihydroxy-2H-furan-5-one
CAS number
50-81-7 CAS number cross-checkedOther or deprecated CAS: 53262-66-1, 62624-30-0, 6730-29-6
EC numbers
200-066-2, 263-644-3, 477-330-0
Molecular formula
C6H8O6
UNII
PQ6CK8PD0R
MDL number
MFCD00064328
INCI name
ASCORBIC ACID
InChIKey
CIWBSHSKHKDKBQ-JLAZNSOCSA-N
InChI
InChI=1S/C6H8O6/c7-1-2(8)5-3(9)4(10)6(11)12-5/h2,5,7-10H,1H2/t2-,5+/m0/s1
Canonical SMILES
O=C1OC(C(O)CO)C(O)=C1O
Isomeric SMILES
C([C@@H]([C@@H]1C(=C(C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O

Synonyms

  • ascorbic acid
  • vitamin C
  • L(+)-Ascorbic acid
  • Ascoltin
  • Ascorbicap
  • Cevitamic acid
  • Allercorb
  • Ascorbajen
  • Ascorin
  • Ascorteal
  • Ascorvit
  • Cantaxin
  • Cebicure
  • Cegiolan
  • Ceglion
  • Cenetone
  • Cergona
  • Cetemican
  • Cevatine
  • Redoxon
  • Viscorin
  • Vitacimin
  • Vitacin
  • Cantan
  • Cebion
Show all 39 synonyms
  • Cereon
  • Cecon
  • Celin
  • Cevex
  • Hicee
  • Catavin C
  • Laroscorbine
  • Testascorbic
  • Ascorbutina
  • Celaskon
  • Cescorbat
  • Cevitamin
  • Citriscorb
  • Colascor

Physical and chemical properties

Measured values and descriptors computed from the structure

Physical and chemical properties

Measured values, check the supplier specification for your grade

Appearance
Crystals (usually plates, sometimes needles, monoclinic system)exp.
Odour
Odorlessexp.
Taste
Pleasant, sharp, acidic tasteexp.
Melting point
190 to 192exp.
Density
1.65 g/cm³ at 25 °Cexp.
Autoignition temperature
380 °Cexp.
Solubility
1 g dissolves in about 3 ml of water.exp.

Values vary by grade. Ask suppliers for the COA or TDS of the batch you buy.

Computed descriptors

Calculated from the structure, useful for screening and formulation

Molecular weight
176.12 g/molcalc.
Exact mass
176.0321 Dacalc.
LogP (octanol/water)
-1.41calc.
Topological polar surface area
107.2 Ųcalc.
Hydrogen bond donors
4calc.
Hydrogen bond acceptors
6calc.
Rotatable bonds
2calc.
Heavy atoms
12calc.
Rings
1calc.
Aromatic rings
0calc.
Fraction sp3 carbons
0.5calc.
Formal charge
0calc.
Stereocentres
2calc.
Lipinski rule of five
Passes (0 violations)calc.

Calculated for screening. Confirm critical figures with the supplier.

Murcko scaffold

The ring system that remains when every side chain is removed

Murcko scaffold of this chemical, O=C1C=CCO1

O=C1C=CCO1

1 ring, 6 atoms, the 2(5H)-Furanone ring system.

877 other chemicals share this scaffold

Safety and hazards

GHS classification summary, not a safety data sheet

GHS classification
Hazard pictograms

GHS classification summary, not a safety data sheet (SDS). Classifications can differ by supplier, grade and concentration. Always check the supplier's SDS.

Full safety data and first aid

L-Ascorbic acid suppliers

Sponsored listings first, then the documented ranking: membership, verification, replies, completeness, freshness and ratings

All 732 suppliers
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Where suppliers are based

732 suppliers in 73 countries

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L-Ascorbic acid price

Indicative price range per kg from live supplier offers

No published prices right now

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Uses and applications

What the substance is used for, by industry and function

Dietary supplement.

As antimicrobial and antioxidant in foodstuffs.

Nutrition, color fixing, flavoring and preservative in meats and other foods, oxidant in bread dough, abscission of citrus fruit in harvesting, reducing agent in analytical chemistry.

The iron, calcium, and sodium salts are available for biochemical research.

Industrial uses: Intermediate.

Consumer uses: Anti-stain agent, Other.

Use classes: Processing Aids and Additives, Safer Chemical Classes, Food additives, Cosmetics.

Cosmetic ingredient, INCI name ASCORBIC ACID(antioxidant, buffering, fragrance, skin conditioning)

Pharmacological actions

  • Antioxidants
  • Vitamins

Roles

  • additive
  • antioxidant
  • coenzyme
  • cofactor
  • cosmetic
  • eukaryotic metabolite
  • flour treatment agent
  • food additive
  • food antioxidant
  • food colour retention agent
  • food component
  • food preservative
  • geroprotector
  • metabolite
  • pharmaceutical
  • physiological role
  • plant metabolite
  • protective agent
  • skin lightening agent

Functional uses

  • Antioxidant
  • Biocide
  • Chelating agent
  • Deodorizer
  • Dye
  • Filler
  • Flavouring and nutrient
  • Fragrance
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Preservative
  • Processing aids not otherwise specified
  • pH regulating agent

Cosmetic functions

  • Antioxidant
  • Buffering
  • Fragrance
  • Skin conditioning

Pharmacology

Ascorbic acid is a Vitamin C.

How it is made

The classical Reichstein - Grussner synthesis starts with reduction of D-glucose to D-sorbitol by hydrogenation over a nickel catalyst. The microbiological oxidation of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose is carried out with Acetobacter xylinum. On treatment of L-sorbose with acetone at low temperature in the presence of sulfuric acid, 2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-L-sorbofuranose is formed. The di-O-isopropylidenyl protection of the hydroxyl-groups at C-2, C-3 and C-4, C-6 allows high-yield oxidation to di-O-isopropylidene-2-ketogulonic acid, without over-oxidation or other side reactions.

Read more

The oxidation is carried out with potassium permanganate in alkaline solution. Treatment of (di-O-isopropylidene-2-ketogulonic acid) with hot water affords 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, which is converted to L-ascorbic acid by heating in water at 100 °C (20% yield) or by esterification and treatment with sodium methoxide in methanol followed by acidification with hydrogen chloride, yielding ca. 70% of /L-ascorbic acid /. The overall yield of ascorbic acid from D-glucose is 15-18%.

Regulatory status

Inventories, regulations and trade controls that list this substance

Health and food

  • EU cosmetic ingredient inventory
  • Active ingredient in FDA approved drug labels
  • Food additive

United States

  • Safer Choice ingredient list (USA)
  • TSCA inventory (USA)
    Status: Active in US commerce

HS code and trade data

Customs classification and reported world trade statistics

Global trade

World import and export statistics for the HS code L-Ascorbic acid is traded under.

HS 2936.27Exact HS code

Vitamin C and its derivatives

World exports in 2024
$1.02B
+7.5% vs 2023, imports $1.07B
2019 to 2024
Top exporters
  1. China60.4%
  2. United States10.4%
  3. Netherlands9.2%
Top importers
  1. United States18.5%
  2. Netherlands9.9%
  3. Germany7.4%
Reported customs values in USD, not prices.Full trade data

The HS code shown for L-Ascorbic acid is indicative (it was matched by name in the HS nomenclature). Confirm the classification with your customs broker before shipping.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about L-Ascorbic acid, based on the data on this page

What is L-Ascorbic acid?

L-ascorbic acid is the L-enantiomer of ascorbic acid and conjugate acid of L-ascorbate. It has a role as a geroprotector, a coenzyme, a cofactor, a flour treatment agent, a plant metabolite, a food antioxidant, a food colour retention agent and a skin lightening agent. It is a vitamin C and an ascorbic acid.

What is the CAS number of L-Ascorbic acid?

The CAS registry number of L-Ascorbic acid is 50-81-7. Other or deprecated CAS numbers: 53262-66-1, 62624-30-0, 6730-29-6.

What is the molecular formula and weight of L-Ascorbic acid?

The molecular formula of L-Ascorbic acid is C6H8O6 and its molar mass is 176.12 g/mol.

What is L-Ascorbic acid used for?

Dietary supplement. As antimicrobial and antioxidant in foodstuffs. Nutrition, color fixing, flavoring and preservative in meats and other foods, oxidant in bread dough, abscission of citrus fruit in harvesting, reducing agent in analytical chemistry.

Is L-Ascorbic acid hazardous?

No GHS hazard classification for L-Ascorbic acid is recorded on CompoundList yet. That does not prove it is safe. Always read the supplier safety data sheet.

What is the HS code of L-Ascorbic acid?

L-Ascorbic acid is usually classified under HS code 293627 (Vitamin C and its derivatives). This is indicative, confirm it with your customs broker before shipping.

Where can I buy L-Ascorbic acid?

CompoundList lists 732 suppliers of L-Ascorbic acid in China, India, United States, Germany and 69 more. Send one free request to get and compare quotes. Your contact details stay private until you accept a quote.

Where can I buy L-Ascorbic acid in India?

130 suppliers in India list L-Ascorbic acid on CompoundList. Filter the suppliers list by country and send a request to compare prices, grades and delivery times.

What is the price of L-Ascorbic acid?

Suppliers quote L-Ascorbic acid on request because prices depend on grade, purity, quantity and destination. A free request on CompoundList gets you several quotes to compare.

Guides for buyers

Practical guides that help when you source, ship or handle L-Ascorbic acid

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Data last updated 7 Oct 2026. Details may have changed, please confirm them with the supplier. Report an error on this page
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