Sodium citrate may refer to any of the sodium salts of citric acid (though most commonly the third): * Monosodium citrate *

Disodium citrate Disodium citrate, also known as disodium hydrogen citrate, Alkacitron, and sesquihydrate, is an acid salt of citric acid with the chemical formula Na2C6H6O7. Uses Food It is used as an antioxidant in food and to improve the effects of other ...

* Trisodium citrate The three forms of salt are collectively known by the

E number E numbers ("E" stands for "Europe") are codes for substances used as food additives, including those found naturally in many foods such as vitamin C, for use within the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Commonly ...

E331.

Applications

Food

Sodium citrates are used as acidity regulators in food and drinks, and also as

emulsifier An emulsion is a mixture of two or more liquids that are normally immiscible (unmixable or unblendable) owing to liquid-liquid phase separation. Emulsions are part of a more general class of two-phase systems of matter called colloids. Altho ...

s for oils. They enable cheeses to melt without becoming greasy. It reduces the acidity of food as well.

Blood clotting inhibitor

Sodium citrate is used to prevent donated blood from clotting in storage. It is also used in a laboratory, before an operation, to determine whether a person's blood is too thick and might cause a blood clot, or if the blood is too thin to safely operate. Sodium citrate is used in medical contexts as an alkalinizing agent in place of

sodium bicarbonate Sodium bicarbonate (IUPAC name: sodium hydrogencarbonate), commonly known as baking soda or bicarbonate of soda, is a chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. It is a salt composed of a sodium cation ( Na+) and a bicarbonate anion ( HCO3−) ...

, to neutralize excess acid in the blood and urine.

Metabolic acidosis

It has applications for the treatment of

metabolic acidosis Metabolic acidosis is a serious electrolyte disorder characterized by an imbalance in the body's acid-base balance. Metabolic acidosis has three main root causes: increased acid production, loss of bicarbonate, and a reduced ability of the kidneys ...

and

chronic kidney disease Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a type of kidney disease in which a gradual loss of kidney function occurs over a period of months to years. Initially generally no symptoms are seen, but later symptoms may include leg swelling, feeling tired, vo ...

Ferrous nanoparticles

Along with oleic acid sodium citrate may be used in the synthesis of

magnetic Magnetism is the class of physical attributes that are mediated by a magnetic field, which refers to the capacity to induce attractive and repulsive phenomena in other entities. Electric currents and the magnetic moments of elementary particle ...

Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles coatings.

References

{{Chemistry index Citrates Chelating agents Organic sodium salts E-number additives