Citrate

The citrate ion can be written C3H5O(COO)33-, that is, citric acid minus three hydrogen ions.

Related Topics:
Ion - Citric acid - Hydrogen ion

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Citrates are compounds containing this group, either ionic compounds, the salts, or analogous covalent compounds, esters. An example of a salt is sodium citrate and an ester is trimethyl citrate. See category for a bigger list.

Related Topics:
Salt - Ester - Sodium citrate - Trimethyl citrate - Category

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Since citric acid is a multifunctional acid, intermediate ions exist, hydrogen citrate ion, HC6H5O72- and dihydrogen citrate ion, H2C6H5O7-. These may form salts as well, called acid salts.

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Salts of the hydrogen citrate ions are weakly acidic, while salts of the citrate ion itself (with an inert cation such as sodium ion) are neither acidic nor basic.

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