Ascorbic acid is the chemical name of

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2015

Explanation

Ascorbic acid is the universally recognized chemical name for Vitamin C.
It is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning the body does not store it in large amounts and it must be consumed regularly through diet.
Humans, unlike many other animals, cannot synthesize their own Vitamin C due to the lack of the enzyme L-gulonolactone oxidase, making it an essential dietary component.
Its acidic property is due to the enolic hydroxyl groups in its structure, and it is a strong reducing agent involved in many biochemical pathways.

Option A: The chemical name for Vitamin A is Retinol (and its derivatives like retinal and retinoic acid).
Option B: Vitamin B is not a single vitamin but a complex of eight different vitamins (e.g., B1 Thiamine, B2 Riboflavin, B3 Niacin, B12 Cobalamin). Each has its own distinct chemical name.
Option D: The chemical names for Vitamin D are Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D₃) and Ergocalciferol (Vitamin D₂).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Chemical Names of Vitamins as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must recognize the signs of Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy), such as poor wound healing, bleeding gums, and petechiae, especially in at-risk populations like the elderly, alcoholics, or those with malabsorptive disorders.
Patient education on dietary sources of Vitamin C is a key nursing intervention for promoting wound healing post-surgery and for overall health maintenance.
What if? If a patient is a chronic smoker, the nurse should understand that their Vitamin C requirement is higher (an extra ~35 mg/day) to combat the increased oxidative stress from smoking. This knowledge informs dietary counseling and potential supplementation recommendations.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of basic biochemistry and nutrition.
First, identify the key term in the question stem: 'Ascorbic acid'.
Next, access your memory of vitamin nomenclature to link this chemical name to its common letter designation.
Systematically review the options provided: Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D.
Select the option that correctly matches the chemical name. In this case, Ascorbic acid is Vitamin C.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Biochemistry U Satyanarayana— Part 1 (pp 26-420 of 840) p. 123-125

E6 Nutrition Monika Sharma 3e p. 110-112

E6 Textbook of Biochemistry for medical StudentsDM Vasudevan Part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-239 of 478) p. 151-153

Practise the full KPSC Staff Nurse - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.