Sodium Citrate: Overview, Questions, Preparation

This chapter has multiple topics listed below:

Acids, Bases and Salts Acid Strength Difference between Acid and Bas...Examples of Bases Zinc carbonate Zinc Nitrate Aluminium Phosphate Aspartic Acid Butyric Acid Tannic acid Uses of Folic Acid Uses of Acetic Acid Lactic Acid formula Uses of Citric Acid Magnesium Nitrate Barium Iodide Dilute Acids Magnesium Phosphate Uses of Hydrochloric Acid List of Strong Acids Butanoic Acid Sodium Chlorate Barium Carbonate Chloroacetic Acid Magnesium Bicarbonate Red Cabbage Indicator Sodium Hexametaphosphate Zinc Hydroxide Potassium Iodate Peroxydisulfuric Acid Ph of Acids and Bases Potassium Bromate Weak Acid Examples Weak Bases Magnesium Hydroxide Monosodium Glutamate Potassium Hydroxide Nitrous Acid Henderson Hasselbalch Equation Difference between Alkali and B...Properties of Bases Sodium Citrate Ammonium Phosphate Chemical Indicators Chromic Acid Perchloric Acid Uses of Sodium Hydroxide Zinc Acetate

Yamini Saini

Updated on Jun 30, 2021 06:44 IST

Na3C6H5O7is a citrate sodium salt, which has an alkalinising effect under the chemical name sodium citrate.

What is Sodium Citrate?

Trisodium citrate or citrosodine or natrocitral is also called sodium citrate. It is commonly used as a nutritional preservative to avoid kidney stones, an anticoagulant for stored blood, and a buffer for urinary alkalinisation.

Natrocitral dissociates into citrate anions and sodium cations following absorption. Organic citrate ions are metabolised to bicarbonate ions, which result in excess hydrogen ion buffering, likely acidosis reversal, an increase in the concentration of plasma bicarbonate, and blood pH increase. It is citric acid trisodium salt and dissolves in water. It has a pH value ranging from 7.5 to 9.0.

Table of Contents

Sodium Citrate Properties
Uses of Sodium Citrate
FAQs on Sodium Citrate

Sodium Citrate Properties

Na3C6H5O7	Sodium Citrate
Molecular weight	258.068 g/mol
No. of hydrogen bond acceptor	7
Monoisotopic mass	257.973 g/mol
Melting point	>300 °C
No. of hydrogen bond donor	1

Uses of Sodium Citrate

Sodium citrate tends to encourage cheeses to melt by not being greasy
Used as an acidity regulator in beverages and food
Used as an oil emulsifier
Used as a medicinal assist
Used as a blood anticoagulant
Used to stop milk curdling
Used as an additive to food

Safety Hazards

Since performing separate tests, citrosodine has been confirmed to be of low significance. It is flammable. Rest and breathe fresh air while you inhale this compound. Rinse and disinfect the skin with soap and water if it comes into contact with the skin. Rinse with lots of water if it gets into the eyes unintentionally. If this compound is swallowed, clean your mouth thoroughly.

Sodium Citrate in Class 10

This concept is taught in the chapter ‘Acids, Bases, and Salts.’ You will learn about the structure, properties and uses of sodium citrate. The weightage is three marks.

Illustrated Examples

Is there another term for citrate sodium?

Trisodium citrate has the Na3C6H5O7 molecular formula. While sodium citrate can refer to any of the three citric acid sodium salts, it is often referred to as ‘sodium citrate.’

Does citric acid occur naturally?

In fruits and vegetables, citric acid occurs naturally. However, it is not the naturally occurring citric acid used widely as a food and beverage additive, but the processed citric acid (MCA).

What is sodium citrate: acidic or alkaline?

Citrate is a thin base and hence reacts in the stomach to increase the pH with hydrochloric acid.

FAQs on Sodium Citrate

Q. What is sodium citrate used for?

A. Sodium citrate is used in urine to reduce acidity. Less acidic urine allows uric acid to get out of the kidneys, preventing gout and other types of kidney stones (urate). This medicine will also avoid and cure many physiological complications caused by kidney failure (acidosis).

Q. What does blood do with sodium citrate?

A. For coagulation tests, sodium citrate is the perfect anticoagulant that inhibits coagulation by creating a complex of calcium ions.

Q. In the body, what does citrate do?

A. Sodium citrate medicine is used to make the urine less acidic. This influence allows the kidneys to get rid of uric acid and helps prevent the kidneys from getting gout and stones.

Q. What is sodium citrate’s purpose?

A. The citric-acid-based sodium salt is sodium citrate. This is also referred to as sour salt and is usually used as a food additive, generally for seasoning or preservative purposes. It provides both club soda’s sour and salty flavours. It lowers the acidity of food, so spherification of highly acidic ingredients is permitted.

Q. For what reason is citric acid used in food?

A. In citrus fruits, citric acid is a strong organic acid. This is a natural preservative that is often used to provide an acidic (sour) flavour in foods and soft drinks. It is crucial as an intermediate in the citric acid cycle in biochemistry and hence appears in almost all living beings’ metabolism.