Understanding the Chemistry
* Ferrous ascorbate is a compound containing iron in its ferrous (Fe²⁺) form bound to ascorbic acid (vitamin C). The chemical formula is usually written as Fe(C₆H₇O₆)₂.
* Elemental iron is pure iron (Fe) in its metallic form.
Calculation
1. Find the molecular weight of ferrous ascorbate:
* Fe: 55.845 g/mol
* C: 12.011 g/mol
* H: 1.008 g/mol
* O: 15.999 g/mol
* Molecular weight of ferrous ascorbate (Fe(C₆H₇O₆)₂) = (55.845 + 12.011 * 12 + 1.008 * 14 + 15.999 * 12) = 443.98 g/mol
2. Determine the proportion of iron in ferrous ascorbate:
* Atomic weight of iron (Fe) / Molecular weight of ferrous ascorbate = 55.845 g/mol / 443.98 g/mol ≈ 0.126
3. Multiply the weight of ferrous ascorbate by the proportion of iron:
* For example, if you have 100 mg of ferrous ascorbate, you would multiply 100 mg * 0.126 = approximately 12.6 mg of elemental iron.
Important Note:
* This calculation provides the theoretical equivalent of elemental iron in ferrous ascorbate.
* Bioavailability of iron from ferrous ascorbate can be different from this theoretical value, as factors like the body's ability to absorb iron can vary.
Example:
If a supplement contains 30 mg of ferrous ascorbate, the equivalent elemental iron content is:
30 mg ferrous ascorbate * (55.845 g/mol Fe / 443.98 g/mol ferrous ascorbate) = approximately 3.8 mg of elemental iron.
