In the body, vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) participates in may important reactions. One reaction is a reaction with a free radical to quench the radical and generate a resonance-stabilized ascorbate radical which is not reactive and won't do any cellular damage. Another reaction is the hydroxylation of proline and lysine in collagen, and important structural protein. Most of the effects of vitamin C defficiency (scurvy) come from the lack of vitamin C for collagen biosynthesis.