In soft drinks, vitamin C inhibits oxidative corrosion of the can interior, which can occur at low pH levels of 2.5 – 4.0. It acts as corrosion inhibitor when adding to medium (liquid or gas), the rate of corrosion of the metal or alloy in which the liquid or gas is preserved, decrease significantly.
Corrosion can be defined as the deterioration of metal by direct chemical or electrochemical reaction with its environment.
Vitamin C inhibits oxidative corrosion