Monosodium citrate explained

Monosodium citrate, more correctly, sodium dihydrogen citrate (Latin:), is an acid salt of citric acid. Disodium citrate and trisodium citrate are also known. It can be prepared by partial neutralisation of citric acid^[1] with an aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate or carbonate. It has a slightly acidic taste.

NaHCO₃ + C₆H₈O₇ → NaC₆H₇O₇ + CO₂ + H₂O

Na₂CO₃ + 2C₆H₈O₇ → 2NaC₆H₇O₇ + CO₂ + H₂O

It is highly soluble in water and practically insoluble in ethanol. Monosodium citrate is used as an anticoagulant in donated blood.^[2] It is used as an alkalinizing agent to prevent kidney stone disease.^[3] The crystals form as nearly perfect cubes.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Monosodium Citrate - Jungbunzlauer . www.jungbunzlauer.com . 17 July 2022.
2. https://books.google.com/books?id=cHAjsUgegpQC&dq=monosodium+citrate+anticoagulant&pg=PA20 Clinical Hematology: Theory and Procedures
3. Web site: PubChem. Monosodium citrate. 2021-08-02. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. en.
4. Hitchcock . David I. . Sodium Hydrogen Citrates . Journal of the American Chemical Society . March 1946 . 68 . 3 . 524–525 . 10.1021/ja01207a507 . 21015754 . 22 July 2022 . en . 0002-7863.