DESCRIPTION

Lycopene, Synthetic occurs as dark red to dark violet crystals or crystalline powder. It is an open-chain, unsaturated C₄₀ carotenoid made up of eight isoprene units, and consists of a mixture of geometric isomers. It is insoluble in water and in acids and alkalis, and nearly insoluble in methanol and in ethanol. It is sparingly soluble in tetrahydrofuran, in ether, in hexane, and in vegetable oils.