Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is not an invention but a naturally occurring essential nutrient. However, its isolation and identification can be attributed to several scientists:
1. **Albert Szent-Györgyi (1932)**: Hungarian physiologist Albert Szent-Györgyi is often credited with isolating vitamin C. He extracted ascorbic acid from paprika and adrenal glands, and he conducted significant research on its role in various biological processes.
2. **Tadeusz Reichstein, Norman Haworth, and Sir Walter Haworth (1933)**: Swiss chemist Tadeusz Reichstein, British chemist Norman Haworth, and his son, Sir Walter Haworth, independently and concurrently synthesized ascorbic acid. Their work helped to elucidate the structure of vitamin C.
The work of these scientists contributed to our understanding of vitamin C and its essential role in maintaining human health. Vitamin C is a crucial nutrient necessary for various bodily functions, including collagen production, wound healing, and the absorption of iron from plant-based foods.