Question

What is the chemical name of vitamin ${{B}_{12}}$?
A. Calciferol
B. Tocopherol
C. Pyridoxine
D. Cyanocobalamin

Answer 1

Hint: A vital part of the composition of Vitamin ${{B}_{12}}$ is the amount of Cobalt present inside it, so much so that cobalt also forms part of its chemical name. With this information, try and narrow down the options to try and get the required answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Let us go through each of the chemical names of substances given in the options and see which one of these belongs to Vitamin ${{B}_{12}}$.
1. Calciferol is the chemical name of vitamin D2 which helps our body absorb calcium and is used to treat hypoparathyroidism (decreased functioning of the parathyroid glands). It is also used to treat rickets (softening of the bones caused by vitamin D deficiency) or low levels of phosphate in the blood (hypophosphatemia).
2. Tocopherol or $\alpha$ -tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a nutrient that is important for many body processes. It helps our nerves and muscles work well, prevents blood clots, and boosts the immune system. It is also a type of antioxidant, a substance that protects cells from damage.
3. Pyridoxine, also known as vitamin ${{B}_{6}}$, is found commonly in food and used as a dietary supplement. As the latter it is used to treat and prevent pyridoxine deficiency, sideroblastic anaemia, pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy, certain metabolic disorders, side effects or complications of isoniazid use, and certain types of mushroom poisoning.
4. Cyanocobalamin is a man-made form of vitamin ${{B}_{12}}$ used to prevent and treat low blood levels of this vitamin. Most people get enough vitamin ${{B}_{12}}$ from their diet. Vitamin ${{B}_{12}}$ is important to maintain the health of your metabolism, blood cells, and nerves. Serious vitamin ${{B}_{12}}$ deficiency may result in a low number of red blood cells (anemia), stomach/intestine problems, and permanent nerve damage.
Through this detailed description of each of the given options, we can easily conclude that the answer to this question is d).

Note: While vitamins ${{B}_{12}}$ and ${{B}_{6}}$ both belong to the vitamin B family, they are very different in properties and uses, therefore it is imperative that you do not get confused between the two when trying to solve this question. A detailed knowledge of vitamin ${{B}_{12}}$ and its constituents will help you narrow down the options even better since it contains a fair amount of Cobalt as a result of which it features in the vitamin’s chemical name.