Sodium Citrate Uses
Sodium citrate refers to sodium salts of citric acid. Monosodium citrate, disodium citrate, and trisodium citrate are the three types of sodium salts of citric acid. The three types of salts get collectively known as E number E 331. However, sodium citrate mostly refers to the third type, that is, trisodium citrate. Sodium citrate is a compound obtained after the alkalizing activity, and it’s a sodium salt of citrate. Its chemical formula is Na3C6H5O7. It gets majorly used in medicine as well as the food industry. In this article, you can learn about sodium citrate uses and the definition, frequently asked questions, etc.
What is Sodium Citrate?
It is a sodium salt of citrate, and it has an alkalinizing activity. You can also call it trisodium citrate. It gets widely used as a food preservative, anticoagulant for stored blood, and alkalization of urine to get rid of kidney stones. Sodium citrate formula is Na3C6H5O7. And below, you can see its structure.
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Properties of Sodium Citrate
Its molecular formula is Na3C6H5O7, and its molecular weight or molar mass is 258.068 g/mol.
Its appearance is white and comes in the form of crystalline powder, or granular crystals.
It’s soluble in water and becomes deliquescent upon contact with moist air. It’s insoluble in alcohol.
It has a sour taste like citric acid.
It has a total number of seven hydrogen bond acceptors and one hydrogen bond donor.
Monoisotopic mass of sodium citrate is 257.973 g/mol.
The melting point of sodium citrate is anywhere > (greater than) 3000 Celsius or 572 oF; 573K.
Applications of Sodium Citrate
Sodium citrate has major applications in food and beverage, healthcare, and other industrial ones too. Below you can read them in detail.
Food and Beverage:
Sodium citrate gets used as an emulsifying salt in processed cheese products. It facilitates the melting of cheese without becoming greasy. It works as a buffering agent in combination with citric acid, and it offers accurate pH control necessary for numerous foods and beverages. Its main job is being a food additive, either for flavor to improve taste or preservation purposes.
Healthcare:
Sodium citrate works perfectly as an anticoagulant for the blood. Thus, it gets widely used for blood collection and storage purposes. It can provide relief from the discomfort in urinary tract infections. It is also a great laxative and reduces several acidosis issues. It’s a significant ingredient of WHO’s oral rehydration solution. It also serves as an antacid, especially before anaesthesia.
You can easily find sodium citrate in many pharmaceutical products, colour, cosmetics, and deodorants. It’s also present in hair care, oral care, skincare, and bathing products.
Industrial Applications:
Citric acid gets used as an industrial cleaner. It helps with clearing steam blocks, hot water systems of calcium and rust layers. It also serves as a buffering and complexing agent in electroplating processes. Textile and building industry gets benefited by the chelating ability and non-toxicity of citric acid.
FAQs on Sodium Citrate
1. What is the Impact of Sodium Citrate on the Body?
Answer: Sodium citrate is nothing but a sodium salt with a base of citric acid. Sodium citrate medication gets used to make the urine less acidic. As a result, the kidneys can get rid of the uric acid, which can help prevent stones and gouts in the kidneys. Sodium citrate can also treat and prevent particular kidney disease and metabolic issues like acidosis. It also works like an anticoagulant for tests of coagulation. It can help in avoiding coagulation by forming a calcium ion complex. In all such ways, sodium citrate gets used for medication and prevents certain diseases.
2. What is Trisodium Citrate?
Answer: The chemical formula of trisodium citrate is Na3C6H5O7. It gets referred to as sodium citrate, and it’s a sodium salt of citric acid. It also gets referred to as sour salt, and it has saline and a bit tart flavour. Its primary application is a food additive, usually for flavour or preservative reasons. It can provide both salty and sour flavour of club soda. It also decreases food acidity, and thus, spherification with strongly acidic ingredients is permissible. The three forms of sodium salts get collectively known as E number E331.