Biotin, also known as
vitamin H or
B7, is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin which is composed of an
ureido (tetrahydroimidizalone) ring fused with a
tetrahydrothiophene ring. A
valeric acid substituent is attached to one of the carbon atoms of the tetrahydrothiophene ring. Biotin is a
cofactor in the
metabolism of
fatty acids and
leucine, and it plays a role in
gluconeogenesis.
Sodium selenite is a
salt, a colourless solid, and the most common water-soluble
selenium compound. It has the
formulas Na2Se
O3 and Na2SeO3(H2O)5 (CAS#26970-82-1). Respectively, these are the
anhydrous salt and its
pentahydrate. This
hydrated salt is the more common one. The hydrated and anhydrous salts behave identically for most purposes, although their molar masses differ.
Because selenium is an
essential element, sodium selenite is an ingredient in some
food supplements
or Vitamins and minerals?