What is sodium citrate is the sodium salt of citric acid. Like citric acid, it has a sour taste. From the medical point of view, it is used as alkalinizing agent. It works by neutralizing excess acid in the blood and urine. It has been indicated for the treatment of metabolic acidosis.
Alternative Names
Citrus Salt
Culinary Uses
Acts as a melting salt for smooth cheese sauces. It is a key ingredient in club soda, and is also used in spherification of acidic ingredients.
If you are out, but find you have citric acid available and are in a pinch for time, you can also utilize the citric acid by mixing it with baking soda, which in the foaming reaction that follows, will neutralize the acidity which will then be aqueous sodium citrate. If you add too much baking soda, it will go from the characteristic tart flavor to somewhat bitter and you can add some citric acid to compensate.
What is sodium citrate Always make sure you are buying sodium citrate and not citric acid.
There are three types of sodium citrate: monosodium citrate, disodium citrate, and trisodium. Most sodium citrate used for food is the trisodium form. Sodium is the weak conjugate base of citric acid. Essentially, if you remove the H + portion of citric acid and replace it with Na + ions, you get sodium citrate. For practical purposes, this means that sodium citrate has long been an important chemical for use in the chemistry lab. As a conjugate base to citric acid, it serves to buffer changes in acidity. In other words, when sodium citrate is present in a solution, it will require more acid than normal to change to decrease the pH of that solution. This is a useful trait, as it makes it easier to make fine adjustments in acidity.
The chemical structure of citric acid (a tribasic acid) is HOOCCH2.C(OH)COOH.CH2COOH. The tri-sodium salt of citric acid is commonly referred to as sodium citrate where all the carboxylic hydrogens have been replaced by sodium. The structure of sodium citrate is NaOOCCH2.C(OH)COONa.CH2COONa. Mono-sodium citrate and di-sodium citrate are also What is sodium citrate known where one and two carboxylic hydrogens respectively have been replaced by sodium.
It is not citric acid. It is sodium citrate, the salt of the acid. It does have a sort of sour -like taste and in fact sodium acetate is sometimes put in foods to simulate the flavor of vinegar, though again The salts of acids not taste sour in the same way as the original acid.
Sodium citrate dihydrate is the most widely used emulsifying salt in sliced processed cheese products. It is commonly used as a buffering agent in combination with citric acid to provide precise pH control required in many food and beverage applications.
Trisodium citrate is often referred to as sodium citrate, though sodium citrate can refer to any of the three sodium salts of citric acid. Sodium citrate has a saline, mildly tart flavor. It is mildly basic and can be used along with citric acid to make biologically compatible buffers. Sodium citrate is primarily used as a food additive, usually for flavor or as a preservative. In certain varieties of club soda, sodium citrate is employed as a flavoring agent. Sodium citrate is a common ingredient in Bratwurst, and is also used to contribute a tart flavor in commercial, ready-to- drink beverages and drink mixes. It is found in gelatin mix, ice-cream, jams, sweets, milk powder, processed cheeses, carbonated beverages, and wine. Sodium Citrate is also used as an emulsifier for oils in the cheesemaking process.
The main functions of citric acid, sodium citrate and the citrates in foods and beverages can be summarized as follows:
as a flavor adjunct, to improve taste
as a chelating agent to improve the action of antioxidants and prevent spoilage of foods such as seafood
Beverages
Alcoholic Beverages Carbonated Soft Drinks
Tea and Coffee, Sports and Energy Drinks and waters
If used together with sodium citrate, it is possible for citric acid to help maintain the flavor of other types of soft drinks without adding to the tanginess. Sodium citrate can also provide a cool saline taste.
pH control: Citric acid, with sodium or potassium citrate, is an efficient buffering system used in a variety of pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications for improving stability and (where appropriate) enhancing the activity of preservatives.
Blood anticoagulant: The citrate ion will chelate calcium, thereby reducing the tendency for blood to clot.
Fragrances Hair Care
Oral Care Skin Care Soap and Bath Products
Sodium citrate is an alkaline substance. Another name for sodium citrate is citrus salt. There are three types of sodium citrate: sodium monositrate, disodium citrate, and trisodium citrate. This acid has many applications in the food industry. Sodium citrate is used in the production of cheese and soft drinks.