MolDraw › 3D molecule models › Vitamin C 3D model
Vitamin C molecule model (C6H8O6)
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is built on a five-membered lactone ring with an enediol group (C=C carrying two OH). The enediol makes it acidic and a powerful antioxidant.
Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom. 3D coordinates: PubChem conformer (CID 54670067).
Vitamin C at a glance
| Formula | C6H8O6 |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 176.12 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | (2R)-2-[(1S)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl]-3,4-dihydroxy-2H-furan-5-one |
| Atoms / bonds | 20 / 20 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 4 / 6 |
| XLogP3 | -1.6 |
| SMILES | C([C@@H]([C@@H]1C(=C(C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O |
| PubChem CID | 54670067 |
What the 3D model of Vitamin C shows
The model contains 20 atoms (12 heavy atoms and 8 hydrogens) joined by 20 bonds; in ball-and-stick mode every stick is one bond, and double or aromatic bonds are drawn as multiple sticks. Switch to space-filling to see the molecule as its electron cloud, scaled to van der Waals radii: this is the shape other molecules actually "feel". It can donate 4 and accept 6 hydrogen bonds, and its PubChem XLogP3 of -1.6 means it is very water-loving (hydrophilic). Its topological polar surface area is 107 Ų.
Shape and bond angles
| Atom(s) | Geometry / hybridisation | Angles & lengths |
|---|---|---|
| ring C=C carbons | Trigonal planar, sp² | ≈ 120°; ring nearly planar |
| side-chain C | Tetrahedral, sp³ | ≈ 109.5° |
Is Vitamin C polar?
Very polar and water-soluble, which is why vitamin C is not stored in body fat.
Elemental composition of C6H8O6
| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 6 | 72.066 | 40.92% |
| Hydrogen (H) | 8 | 8.064 | 4.58% |
| Oxygen (O) | 6 | 95.994 | 54.50% |
Calculated from IUPAC standard atomic weights. Check any formula with the molar mass calculator.
Uses of vitamin c
- Essential nutrient; deficiency causes scurvy
- Antioxidant food additive (E300)
- Reducing agent in chemistry and photography developers
Interesting facts
- Its acidity (pKa ≈ 4.1) comes from an enol OH, not a carboxylic acid.
- Humans cannot make vitamin C because the gene for L-gulonolactone oxidase is non-functional.
- Vitamin C is needed to hydroxylate proline in collagen.
Drawing structures for your notes? MolDraw is a free online chemical structure editor for molecules, reactions and lab diagrams.
Open MolDraw editorFrequently asked questions
Why is ascorbic acid an acid if it has no COOH group?
The OH on the enediol C=C is unusually acidic (pKa ≈ 4.1) because the resulting anion is resonance-stabilised.
What makes vitamin C an antioxidant?
The enediol readily gives up two electrons and two protons, becoming dehydroascorbic acid.
What is the chemical formula and molar mass of vitamin c?
Vitamin C is C6H8O6 with a molar mass of 176.12 g/mol (PubChem CID 54670067). It contains 20 atoms: 6 carbon, 8 hydrogen, 6 oxygen.
What is the IUPAC name of Vitamin C?
The PubChem-computed IUPAC name is (2R)-2-[(1S)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl]-3,4-dihydroxy-2H-furan-5-one.
How do I make a model of Vitamin C?
Rotate the interactive model above to see how its 20 atoms connect, then copy it with a ball-and-stick kit: use the CPK colours shown (carbon grey or black, hydrogen white, oxygen red, nitrogen blue). For a school project, foam balls and toothpicks work well.