Citric acid is an organic compound with weak acidic properties with the chemical formula C6H8O7 and a molar mass of 192.027g/mol. Citric acid with acid namesLemon, lemon essence, citric acid, hydroxypropane, citric acid are also known. Citric acid exists as a white crystalline powder at room temperature. This acid is naturally present in some fruits such as oranges, lemons and limes and vegetables.

Because citric acid has low acidity, its consumption is common and it is widely used in the food industry, which we will discuss further. Citric acid has no fat and sugar and its consumption will cause fat burning. You can see the molecular structure of citric acid below:

Physical and chemical properties of edible citric acid

chemical formula	C6H8O7	Physical state (room temperature)	White crystalline powder
Molar mass	192.027g/mol	Form density	1.665g/cm3
melting point	153 °C	Dry density	1.542g/cm3
Solubility	59g/100ml at 20°C	boiling point	310 °C

Application of oral citric acid

As mentioned, citric acid is a very weak acid that occurs naturally in some fruits and vegetables. Citric acid is both acidic and sour in taste. In general, the main applications of citric acid include the applications of food, agriculture and cosmetic industries. In the following, we will discuss these applications:

The use of edible citric acid in the food industry

As mentioned, citric acid has a sour taste, and on the other hand, the consumption of this acid is not prohibited and will not cause problems for the body’s system, that’s why many food industries use citric acid to add a sour taste to the substance, for example. In some candies, the sour taste is due to the presence of this acid.

On the other hand, citric acid has an acid property that prevents the growth of some bacteria and fungi and makes the so-called antibacterial environment and delays the oxidation of food. Therefore, citric acid is used as a preservative in industries. Food is used.

Citric acid is added to multivitamins due to its high absorption property in the body to increase the absorption of these vitamins in the body.

Citric acid is also used in the cheese production process due to its acidic properties.

Application of citric acid in agricultural industries

Citric acid, due to its low acidity, its use in fertilizer or directly in the soil of plants destroys fungi and pests and also prevents the accumulation of earthworms around the plant. The amount of acidity of this substance is not enough to harm the plant, but it is enough to prevent the growth of pests and fungi. Also, citric acid has the ability to adjust soil pH.

Application of citric acid in cosmetic industry

Citric acid is used in the production of skin creams and medicines. This substance is supposed to clarify the skin and prevent premature aging. It also removes acne scars from the face.

Citric acid is also used in making skin protection masks.

Disadvantages of oral citric acid

No side effects have been reported under the use of oral citric acid, but its safety points written in the section below must be followed. It should also be noted that the consumption of oral citric acid is harmful for people who have a sensitive stomach or are only allergic to citric acid, and it should be avoided or its consumption should be minimized. As mentioned, one of the most important uses of citric acid is in the food industry. According to the FDA, citric acid is a healthy chemical for food use and it can be used in food products without any problems, however, the consumption of this chemical acid has some disadvantages that we will discuss below:

• Consuming drinks that contain citric acid causes erosion of tooth enamel over time.
• Taking medicines that contain citric acid can cause vomiting and nausea for people with gastrointestinal allergies.
• When consuming foods that contain citric acid, excessive contact with the hands will cause swelling and hives, although the possibility of this problem depends on the sensitivity of the person’s skin, and these problems may not occur for some people.

In general, although citric acid is safe and approved for use in the food industry, its acidic nature may cause problems inside the body (digestive system) or outside the body (skin, eyes, etc.). Of course, these problems will arise for certain people or with indiscriminate use.

Safety tips for working with oral citric acid

• The contact of citric acid with the skin of the hand is not prohibited and will not cause any danger except for people who are allergic to citric acid.
• Inhaling it for a long time will cause headache and nausea, so when using it, our place should be equipped with ventilation.
• Excessive consumption of citric acid causes tooth enamel erosion due to its acidic properties.
• Its consumption should be based on the knowledge of how much can be used. In some people, its consumption will cause kidney problems, urination problems, etc., and these people must see a doctor.
• Citric acid has some burning properties, so it should be kept away from flammable substances.

Frequently asked questions about oral citric acid

In this section, we will address the most frequently asked questions about oral citric acid:

What is the difference between edible and industrial and laboratory citric acid?

In general, all laboratory grade products are produced for laboratories that require high purity and low error so that their tests do not lead to errors. It means that any product that had laboratory and industrial grade, its laboratory grade will be more accurate and naturally more expensive.

Industrial citric acid is no different from food. Citric acid is naturally found in many fruits and vegetables and can even be used as a sour taste or food preservative. So it is clear that edible citric acid is different from industrial citric acid only in its application. If it is used as a preservative, edible citric acid is used, but if they want to use it in chemical and industrial reactions, they go for industrial citric acid.

Where can we get citric acid?

Temadkala store, a supplier of laboratory and industrial chemicals, is proud to deliver all kinds of laboratory, industrial and edible materials with guaranteed quality and reasonable prices to all buyers across the country. You can now place an order to buy citric acid via the link below.

What is the difference between dry citric acid and more citric acid?

Citric acid is generally either dry citric acid or monohydrated or wet citric acid. The difference between these two is in their molecules. In the monohydrate or wet citric acid molecule, there is a water molecule next to the main citric acid molecule, and its chemical formula is C6H8O7.H2O, but dry citric acid does not have any water molecules in it.

It should also be noted that dry citric acid is in the form of white powder, but monohydrated citric acid is in the form of fine white crystals.

What is the difference between oral citric acid and baking soda?

Edible citric acid is naturally present in some fruits, and it is even used to add a sour taste to food or to preserve food products. It has the chemical formula C6H8O7, but baking soda is used as a cleaning agent in the kitchen or for special applications. Food is used, which has the chemical formula NaHCO3.