Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a water-soluble vitamin. It occurs as a white or slightly yellow crystal or powder with a slight acidic taste. It is an antiscorbutic product. On exposure to light, it gradually darkens. In the dry state, it is reasonably stable in air, but in solution it rapidly oxidizes. Ascorbic acid (vitamin c) is freely soluble in water; sparingly soluble in alcohol; insoluble in chloroform, in ether, and in benzene. The chemical name of ascorbic acid (vitamin c) is L-ascorbic acid (vitamin c)

• Vitamin C is recommended for the prevention and treatment of scurvy.
• Symptoms of mild deficiency may include faulty bone and tooth development, gingivitis, bleeding gums, and loosened teeth. Febrile states, chronic illness, and infection (pneumonia, whooping cough, tuberculosis, diphtheria, sinusitis, rheumatic fever, etc.) increase the need for ascorbic acid (vitamin c).

Less common or rare- with high doses

•  Diarrhea
•  dizziness or faintness (with the injection only)
•  flushing or redness of skin
•  headache
•  increase in urination (mild)
•  nausea or vomiting
•  stomach cramps

• Diabetics, patients prone to recurrent renal calculi, those undergoing stool occult blood tests, and those on sodium-restricted diets or anticoagulant therapy should not take excessive doses of vitamin C over an extended period of time.
• Too-rapid intravenous injection is to be avoided.
• Diabetics taking more than 500 mg vitamin C daily may obtain false readings of their urinary glucose test.