Antioxidative Effects of Salts on the Oxidation of L-Ascorbic Acid

Antioxidative effects of salts on the oxidation of L-ascorbic acid were tested. All salts which were effective contained halogen or rhodan ions. No relation can be observed between antioxidative effects and cations. Effective anions, halogen and rhodan ions, are situated at the end of the Hofmeister's series which are considerd to show electron-donor properties according to Szent-Györgyi. When ascorbic acid is oxidized, monodehydroascorbic acid having a free radical is formed by one-electron release. Chain oxidation reactions occur by the radicals. Electrons should be added to the radicals in order to protect the chain oxidation reactions. Therefore, it is deduced that the antioxidative effects which were shown by halogen and rhodan ions may be caused by the electron-donor properties of the ions.