{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.vitamin-c","code":"thing-q199678","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q199678/","name":"vitamin C","alternateNames":[],"kind":"thing","status":"published","version":"0.1.0-research.1","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Physical world and living systems","entryKind":"thing","plane":"PHY","domain":["PHY.MAT"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"Vitamin C is L-ascorbic acid, an essential water-soluble micronutrient that humans cannot synthesize and that functions as a cofactor in collagen hydroxylation and as a reducing agent in redox metabolism.","purpose":"Enable an AI agent to identify vitamin C, assess its form, amount and condition, and determine which uses are supported by evidence for the material at hand.","scope":{"in":["Chemical identity and the boundary between ascorbic acid, ascorbate forms and substances reported as vitamin C","Measured vitamin C content, reporting basis and analytical uncertainty","Oxidation, degradation and changes during storage, preparation or processing","Evidence connecting a particular form and condition to a proposed nutritional or technical function","Material-specific handling and use constraints"],"out":["Complete composition, manufacture and labeling of foods or dietary supplements","A person's nutritional status, diagnosis or treatment plan","Whole-organism vitamin metabolism and physiological regulation","Complete formulation and performance of cosmetics or medicines","General models of acids, antioxidants and nutrient classes"],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Require chemical identity evidence: sourness, acidity or a citrus origin does not distinguish vitamin C from citric acid or other acids.","Record stereochemical identity where relevant; a matching molecular formula or antioxidant result alone does not establish vitamin C identity or nutritional equivalence.","Distinguish ascorbic acid from an ascorbate salt by recording the counterion and chemical form before comparing their masses.","Distinguish a vitamin C result from an ascorbic-acid-only result by checking whether the method includes dehydroascorbic acid.","Distinguish vitamin C itself from a product containing it: product mass and ingredient presence do not establish vitamin C amount."],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"vitamin-c-identity","name":"Vitamin C identity","description":"Establish what substance is present and why it qualifies as vitamin C.","layers":[{"id":"chemical-identification","name":"Chemical identification","description":"Resolve chemical form and stereochemistry from available evidence.","findings":[{"id":"identified-ascorbic-form","name":"Identified ascorbic form","description":"Record the supported identity, distinguishing ascorbic acid, ascorbate salts and other related compounds.","questions":[{"text":"What chemical form and stereochemical identity does the evidence establish?","id":"identified-ascorbic-form-q01","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Does the identification come from an analytical result, a supplier specification or only a product label?","id":"identified-ascorbic-form-q02","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"vitamin-activity-boundary","name":"Vitamin activity boundary","description":"Resolve which related substances the model treats as vitamin C or links to a neighbouring model.","findings":[{"id":"related-compound-membership","name":"Related compound membership","description":"Record the basis for including or excluding oxidized forms, stereoisomers and derivatives.","questions":[{"text":"Under the adopted definition, how are dehydroascorbic acid and ascorbate salts represented?","id":"related-compound-membership-q01","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"What evidence would justify counting a named derivative or stereoisomer as vitamin C for the intended use?","id":"related-compound-membership-q02","kind":"boundary"}]}]}]},{"id":"vitamin-c-quantity","name":"Vitamin C quantity","description":"Establish how much vitamin C is present and what the reported number means.","layers":[{"id":"analyte-and-assay","name":"Analyte and assay","description":"Connect a content claim to the substances and sample actually measured.","findings":[{"id":"assay-coverage","name":"Assay coverage","description":"Record whether the result measures ascorbic acid alone or a defined total including other forms.","questions":[{"text":"Which chemical species does the assay include in its reported vitamin C result?","id":"assay-coverage-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"How were sampling, extraction and sample preservation controlled to limit changes before measurement?","id":"assay-coverage-q02","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"quantity-comparability","name":"Quantity comparability","description":"Make vitamin C amounts comparable across forms, matrices and reporting conventions.","findings":[{"id":"declared-quantity-basis","name":"Declared quantity basis","description":"Record units, denominator and any conversion from salt or ingredient mass to a vitamin C equivalent.","questions":[{"text":"Is the amount reported per sample, serving, mass, volume or dry matter, and at what time?","id":"declared-quantity-basis-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"What chemical-equivalence conversion and uncertainty must be applied before comparing this value with another?","id":"declared-quantity-basis-q02","kind":"measurement"}]}]}]},{"id":"vitamin-c-condition","name":"Vitamin C condition","description":"Assess chemical changes and whether earlier content evidence remains applicable.","layers":[{"id":"oxidation-and-retention","name":"Oxidation and retention","description":"Distinguish changes in measured chemical forms from loss under the adopted vitamin C definition.","findings":[{"id":"current-chemical-condition","name":"Current chemical condition","description":"Record measured form distribution and retained content without inferring them from appearance alone.","questions":[{"text":"What measurements distinguish ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid and further degradation in this material?","id":"current-chemical-condition-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"Does the evidence show a change in chemical form, a decrease in total measured vitamin C or both?","id":"current-chemical-condition-q02","kind":"measurement"}]}]},{"id":"exposure-and-retest","name":"Exposure and retest","description":"Connect material history to the confidence placed in its present condition.","findings":[{"id":"stability-evidence-applicability","name":"Stability evidence applicability","description":"Record whether stability evidence matches the form, matrix, packaging and exposure conditions.","questions":[{"text":"What temperature, light, oxygen, moisture and processing exposures occurred after the last reliable assay?","id":"stability-evidence-applicability-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Does applicable stability evidence support continued use, or is a new content assay required?","id":"stability-evidence-applicability-q02","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"vitamin-c-function","name":"Vitamin C function","description":"Connect vitamin C identity and condition to the specific function being requested.","layers":[{"id":"nutritional-contribution","name":"Nutritional contribution","description":"Represent the material's supported vitamin contribution while linking individual requirements to other models.","findings":[{"id":"supported-vitamin-contribution","name":"Supported vitamin contribution","description":"Record the basis for a nutritional vitamin C amount and the limits of that claim.","questions":[{"text":"What evidence supports the stated nutritional vitamin C contribution of this chemical form and amount?","id":"supported-vitamin-contribution-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which questions about absorption, individual requirements or treatment must be resolved by linked organism or clinical models?","id":"supported-vitamin-contribution-q02","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"chemical-function","name":"Chemical function","description":"Assess a requested reducing or antioxidant function under specified conditions.","findings":[{"id":"contextual-functional-performance","name":"Contextual functional performance","description":"Record the reaction or performance endpoint rather than treating antioxidant as a universal capability.","questions":[{"text":"What reaction, substrate or measurable endpoint defines successful vitamin C performance in this use?","id":"contextual-functional-performance-q01","kind":"definition"},{"text":"What evidence demonstrates that performance at the proposed concentration, pH and matrix conditions?","id":"contextual-functional-performance-q02","kind":"measurement"}]}]}]},{"id":"vitamin-c-use-decisions","name":"Vitamin C use decisions","description":"Determine which handling operations and intended uses are supported for the identified material.","layers":[{"id":"preparation-and-compatibility","name":"Preparation and compatibility","description":"Assess proposed dissolution, mixing and processing steps against form-specific evidence.","findings":[{"id":"supported-preparation","name":"Supported preparation","description":"Record preparation conditions and their expected effect on vitamin C content and function.","questions":[{"text":"What evidence supports the proposed solvent, concentration, pH, mixing partners and processing temperature for this form?","id":"supported-preparation-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which preparation steps require a subsequent vitamin C content or functional check before use?","id":"supported-preparation-q02","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"material-acceptance","name":"Material acceptance","description":"Evaluate the material against explicit requirements for the proposed use.","findings":[{"id":"use-specific-disposition","name":"Use-specific disposition","description":"Record an acceptance, restriction or rejection with evidence and unresolved conditions.","questions":[{"text":"Which identity, vitamin C content, purity and impurity criteria must this material meet for the specified use?","id":"use-specific-disposition-q01","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"Given the available evidence, may the material be used, must it be retested or must it be rejected for that use?","id":"use-specific-disposition-q02","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"evidence-and-external-alignment","name":"Evidence and external alignment","description":"What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.","layers":[{"id":"reported-evidence","name":"Reported evidence","description":"Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.","findings":[{"id":"evidence-kinds","name":"Kinds and varieties","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of vitamin C this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-kinds-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-identifiers","name":"Identifiers and schemes","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of vitamin C this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-identifiers-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-standards-and-regulation","name":"Standards and regulation","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of vitamin C this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-standards-and-regulation-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-real-world-use","name":"Real-world use","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of vitamin C this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-real-world-use-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-measurements","name":"Typical measurements","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of vitamin C this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-measurements-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-failure-modes-and-hazards","name":"Failure modes and hazards","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of vitamin C this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-failure-modes-and-hazards-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-regional-variation","name":"Regional variation","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of vitamin C this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-regional-variation-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-neighbours","name":"Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of vitamin C this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-neighbours-q01","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Explain vitamin C, its dietary sources and functions from reputable sources.","Read supplement labels and report dose and form."],"mustNot":["Claim that vitamin C cures or prevents cancer, colds or other diseases beyond the evidence.","Advise replacing medical treatment with vitamin C.","Recommend high-dose supplements to people with kidney stones or iron overload disorders without medical advice."],"requiresHuman":["Recommending supplements to a person with a medical condition."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["Exaggerated claims draw sick people away from treatments that work.","Scurvy still occurs among the poor, the isolated and those with restricted diets."],"affectedParties":["Patients seeking alternatives","People with poor diets","Consumers of supplements"]},"owners":{"steward":"Nobody owns the nutrient; makers of supplements answer for their products.","roles":[],"masterSystems":[]},"relations":[{"target":"Q108955625","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"Q193598","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.vitamin-c","Wikidata: Q199678 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q199678)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"required","items":["Chemical form and stereochemical identity: Recorded chemical name, stereochemical designation and identifier; unresolved when evidence is insufficient","Counterion or derivative relationship: Related counterion, parent compound or derivative, with identity evidence","Vitamin C amount or concentration: mg, mg/g, mg/mL or mol/L, with sample basis, analytes included, method, uncertainty and measurement time","Ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid accounting: Separate concentrations or fractions where measured; otherwise explicitly unresolved","Physical form and host matrix: Solid material, solution or constituent of a specified matrix","Exposure history: Documented temperature, light, oxygen, moisture and duration; pH when applicable","Purity and relevant impurities: Assay percentage and impurity concentrations with analytical basis and detection limits","Suitability for intended use: Supported, conditionally supported, unsupported or unresolved, linked to a stated use and acceptance criteria"]},"recognition":{"applicability":"required","items":["Pure ascorbic acid is a white to slightly yellow crystalline powder with a sour taste."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["Identify the chemical form and determine whether a vitamin C designation is supported.","Compare measured amounts after aligning analytes, units and reporting bases.","Request an assay that distinguishes the vitamin C quantities relevant to the intended decision.","Assess whether storage or processing history warrants retesting before use.","Select handling conditions supported for the particular form and matrix.","Accept, restrict or reject a proposed use against documented material requirements."]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Deficiency causes scurvy, with bleeding gums and poor wound healing.","Very high doses can cause digestive upset and contribute to kidney stones in some people."]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["The General Standard for Food Additives, CXS 192-1995, issued by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, addresses permitted food additive uses of ascorbic acid.","Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, governs food additive uses of ascorbic acid as E 300."]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vitamin C occurs in foods and is encountered in nutrition assessment, food formulation and dietary supplements.","Its reducing properties also support uses in food preservation and laboratory chemistry, while topical formulations are encountered in skin care."]}},"sources":[{"title":"Vitamin and mineral requirements in human nutrition, 2nd ed.","url":"https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9241546123","note":"Nutrient identity, human essentiality, and recommended intake ranges."},{"title":"Wikidata item Q199678: vitamin C","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q199678","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: Vitamin C","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_C","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Which authoritative definition should govern this registry entry's inclusion of dehydroascorbic acid, ascorbate salts and vitamin C derivatives?","Which analytical methods adequately distinguish the relevant forms in each intended matrix, and what interferences or sample-handling losses must be accounted for?","Which reporting conventions and conversion rules should govern vitamin C equivalents across free acid, salts and any included derivatives?","What stability evidence is available for the actual chemical forms, matrices, packaging and exposure histories the model must support?","Which authoritative material specifications and acceptance criteria apply to each intended nutritional, analytical or formulation use?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q199678/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q199678/spec.json"],"providers":["Codex","Grok"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-07T09:31:38Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"filled","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"_gate":"Published through the thing publication gate 1.0 on 2026-10-07T10:10:28+00:00: completeness 1.00; sense: Wikidata description; 3 live sources; review by codex: pass"},"score":1.0}}