Uses of Citric Acid: 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

Jasleen Taneja

Updated on Jun 4, 2024 16:48 IST

Table of Contents

What is Citric Acid?
What are the uses of Citric Acid?
What are the important things to remember?
Illustrative Examples
FAQs on Citric Acid

What is Citric Acid?

Jabir Ibn Hayyan (Geber) was the first Islamic chemist to discover citric acid. In 1784, Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele separated it in crystalline form from lemon juice. While in citrus fruits, it occurs naturally. Citric acid is one of the most popular food preservatives and flavouring additives in the food industry. It can be found in citrus fruit naturally but is also processed. Citric acid is a weak organic acid, having the molecular formula C6H8O7.

The power of A. Niger was first recognised by James Currie in 1917 to manufacture citric acid and development at the industrial level started two years later by Pfizer.

What are the uses of Citric Acid?

In food processing, citric acid has many applications. It is a preservative, a taste enhancer, and helps promote the process of ripening. About 50 % of the world's citric acid production is used in drinks as a flavour booster, and citric acid is manufactured in a powder form when a sour flavour is needed. It is added to dry foods such as seasoning salts, flavouring powders, and crunchy snacks. As a food preservative, the acidic pH of citric acid makes it beneficial. It retains the colour of the food as it greatly slows oxidation. While many bacteria cannot thrive in an acidic environment, as a means of preservation, citric acid is frequently applied to jams, jellies, sweets, and canned foods. Citric acid is often used when making cheese to promote the ripening process.

What are the important things to remember?

Ascorbic acid and citric acid is found in a lot of fruits and vegetables. Because of their similar names and origin, they are often confused with each other.

In the 11th class exam, this topic has a weightage of 3 marks.

Illustrative Examples

Citric acid is most abundant in lemons and limes among fruits, containing as much as 8 percent of the weight of dry fruit.
Including lemons, limes, pineapples, grapefruit, grapes, strawberries, broccoli, carrots, and certain types of plants, citric acid occurs naturally.
Citric Acid is one of the most easily detectable acids in coffee.

FAQs on Citric Acid

Q: How many elements are there in citric acid?

A: Citric Acid contains six carbon atoms, eight hydrogen atoms and seven oxygen atoms. Its chemical formula is represented as C6H8O7.

Q: Is citric acid the same as vitamin C?

A: Citric acid is a natural source of many fruit and fruit juices and is an organic acid. However, citric acid is not the same as ascorbic acid (vitamin C). It has also been proven useful for people with kidney stones.

Q: What are the components of citric acid?

A: We are aware that citric acid is a three-carbon skeleton alpha-hydroxy acid that has three carboxylic acid groups (COOH) and one hydroxyl group (OH).

Q: How to clean a toilet with citric acid?

A: In a ceramic tub, mix the baking soda with citric acid. Apply the liquid dish soap slowly and combine thoroughly. When squeezed in your palm, the mixture should maintain its form, and then you can clean your toilet.

Q: What does citric acid kill?

A: Citric acid is used to help kill dangerous bacteria and skin surface infections that may be prevalent in people with diabetes, elderly people and people who smoke.