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Compounds and Cleaning · Compound · Vitamin C powder

Ascorbic Acid

Vitamin C in shelf-stable powder form. A daily supplement that also stops cut produce from browning, preserves food, and removes the chlorine taste from treated water.

5 TO 10 YEARSWorks without power

Quick facts

Also is
Vitamin C
Form
White powder
Hazard class
Low
Shelf life
5 to 10 years
Storage
Sealed, with desiccant
What to avoid
  • Air
  • light
  • heat

See everything ascorbic acid must never touch

What it's good for

Supplement

Daily vitamin C

Anti-browning

Keeps produce fresh

Preservation

Antioxidant in storage

Water

Removes chlorine taste

A strong antioxidant: it gives up electrons to stop browning and remove chlorine, which also makes it spoil fast once wet.

Good to know

It works by sacrificing itself. Vitamin C is a reducing agent that reacts with oxygen eagerly, so it gets oxidized in place of the cut apple, the food, or the chlorine in your water. The catch is there is no off switch; once dissolved and exposed to air and light it keeps reacting until used up, which is why a glass of vitamin C water fades within hours and the powder yellows as it ages.

Handling and safety

Stops browning

A quick dip keeps cut fruit and vegetables from turning brown.

Removes chlorine

A pinch cuts the chlorine taste in water, after disinfection is done.

It yellows with age

White powder that has darkened toward yellow has lost potency.

Mix it fresh

Dissolved vitamin C fades within hours; make each dose when needed.

Recipes for ascorbic acid

Questions this answers

Tap a question for the short answer.

What is ascorbic acid used for?

It is vitamin C in shelf-stable powder form. Beyond a daily supplement, it keeps cut fruit and vegetables from browning, acts as an antioxidant in food preservation, and a pinch removes the chlorine taste from water after disinfection is done.

How long does ascorbic acid last in storage?

The dry powder lasts 5 to 10 years when sealed with a desiccant. Powder that has darkened toward yellow has lost potency, and once dissolved it fades within hours.

How do I store ascorbic acid?

Keep it sealed with a desiccant, away from air, light and heat. It spoils fast once wet, so mix each dose fresh when you need it.

Keep going

Read nextPurify water with Lugol's iodine (2%)When filters break and boiling isn't possible, a few drops of Lugol's solution can make questionable water safe to drink.Water · Formula

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Compounds and Cleaning · CompoundSource: Prepper's Chemical Survival Guide, Chapter 12, p. 71 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18

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