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Vitamins

Mediumchemistry

Excess intake of vitamin C is excreted readily in urine, while excess vitamin A tends to accumulate in the body and can become toxic. Which property difference best explains these contrasting fates?

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About This Question

Subject
chemistry
Chapter
biomolecules
Topic
vitamins
Difficulty
Medium
Year
2025
Tags
vitamin classificationwater-soluble vitaminsfat-soluble vitaminsvitamin Cvitamin A

Solution

Correct Answer:

Vitamin C is water-soluble whereas vitamin A is fat-soluble

Vitamins are classified by solubility, and that single property governs how the body stores and excretes them. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) carries several hydroxyl groups and is highly polar, making it water-soluble; the body cannot store appreciable amounts, so any excess is filtered by the kidneys and lost in urine, which is why it must be supplied regularly in the diet. Vitamin A (retinol) has a long hydrophobic isoprenoid chain and is fat-soluble, so it dissolves in body lipids and is stored in tissues such as the liver, allowing harmful accumulation when intake is excessive. This solubility contrast directly explains the two fates. Calling vitamin C a protein and vitamin A a carbohydrate misidentifies their chemical nature. The acid-base description is misleading; although vitamin C is mildly acidic, that is not the basis of its rapid excretion. Both vitamins must be obtained from diet, so endogenous synthesis is not the distinction. This is the standard NCERT classification of fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins. As a check, the other water-soluble B-group vitamins are likewise not stored, while fat-soluble D, E and K can also accumulate, consistent with the solubility rule.

This medium difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter biomolecules, covering the topic of vitamins. It appeared in the 2025 exam.

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