DESCRIPTION

Riboflavin occurs as a yellow to orange-yellow, crystalline powder. When dry, it is not affected by diffused light, but when in solution, light induces deterioration. It melts at about 280° with decomposition, and its saturated solution is neutral to litmus. One g dissolves in 3000 to about 20,000 mL of water, the variations being due to differences in the internal crystalline structure. It is less soluble in alcohol than in water. It is insoluble in ether and in chloroform, but it is very soluble in dilute solutions of alkalies.