In nutrition and human health, vitamin A is also commonly known by which chemical name?

Introduction / Context:

Vitamins often have both letter based names and specific chemical names. For example, vitamin B1 is called thiamine and vitamin D is called calciferol. Exam questions frequently test whether students can match the vitamin letter to the correct chemical term. This question asks about vitamin A and requires the learner to identify its commonly used chemical name from a list of possibilities.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The vitamin of interest is vitamin A.
• Options provide several chemical names: thiamine, riboflavin, retinol, calciferol, and cobalamin.
• We assume basic awareness of vitamin nomenclature, especially of vitamin A, D, B complex, and B12.
• We rely on standard naming conventions used in nutrition and medical science.

Concept / Approach:

Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin that plays important roles in vision, immune function, and maintenance of epithelial tissues. Its main active form in the body is called retinol. Therefore, vitamin A is commonly referred to as retinol in scientific contexts. Thiamine is the name for vitamin B1, riboflavin is vitamin B2, calciferol refers to vitamin D, and cobalamin is the term for vitamin B12. By matching each chemical name to the correct letter based vitamin, we can identify which one belongs to vitamin A.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Recall that vitamin A is associated with good vision and is found in foods such as liver, milk, and carrots. Step 2: Remember that the chemical name for vitamin A is retinol. Step 3: Match the other chemical names with their known vitamins: thiamine with vitamin B1, riboflavin with vitamin B2, calciferol with vitamin D, and cobalamin with vitamin B12. Step 4: Compare these matches with the given options and identify retinol as the one that corresponds to vitamin A. Step 5: Select retinol as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:

Nutrition tables in textbooks and health references list vitamin A as retinol or retinal forms. The recommended dietary allowance for vitamin A is often given in micrograms of retinol equivalents. In contrast, vitamin B1 is always written as thiamine, vitamin B2 as riboflavin, vitamin D as cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol and sometimes simply calciferol, and vitamin B12 as cyanocobalamin or cobalamin. These consistent pairings in reliable sources verify that retinol is the chemical name associated with vitamin A.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A, Thiamine, is vitamin B1 and is linked to beriberi when deficient. Option B, Riboflavin, is vitamin B2 and is associated with conditions such as cracks at the corners of the mouth when deficient. Option D, Calciferol, is one of the names for vitamin D, important for calcium balance and bone health. Option E, Cobalamin, refers to vitamin B12, which is vital for red blood cell formation and nervous system function. None of these names correspond to vitamin A.

Common Pitfalls:

Students sometimes confuse the names of fat soluble vitamins, especially vitamins A and D, or mix up several members of the B complex. Under exam pressure, they may guess any familiar sounding chemical name without methodically matching them. To avoid such errors, learners should create a simple mapping list: vitamin A retinol, vitamin B1 thiamine, vitamin B2 riboflavin, vitamin B12 cobalamin, and vitamin D calciferol. Reviewing this list regularly makes these associations easier to remember.

Final Answer:

Vitamin A is also commonly known by the chemical name Retinol.