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Potassium citrate

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Potassium citrate is a widely used ingredient in cosmetics, personal care, and skincare formulations. Depending on its function, it may serve as a moisturizer, preservative, emulsifier, or active ingredient to enhance the overall effectiveness and performance of a product.

Potassium citrate (Wikipedia)

Potassium citrate (also known as tripotassium citrate) is a potassium salt of citric acid with the molecular formula K3C6H5O7. It is a white, hygroscopic crystalline powder. It is odorless with a saline taste. It contains 38.28% potassium by mass. In the monohydrate form, it is highly hygroscopic and deliquescent.

Potassium citrate
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Tripotassium 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.011.596 Edit this at Wikidata
E number E332(ii) (antioxidants, ...)
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C6H8O7.3K/c7-3(8)1-6(13,5(11)12)2-4(9)10;;;/h13H,1-2H2,(H,7,8)(H,9,10)(H,11,12);;;/q;3*+1/p-3 checkY
    Key: QEEAPRPFLLJWCF-UHFFFAOYSA-K checkY
  • InChI=1/C6H8O7.3K/c7-3(8)1-6(13,5(11)12)2-4(9)10;;;/h13H,1-2H2,(H,7,8)(H,9,10)(H,11,12);;;/q;3*+1/p-3
    Key: QEEAPRPFLLJWCF-DFZHHIFOAD
  • [K+].[K+].[K+].O=C([O-])CC(O)(C([O-])=O)CC(=O)[O-]
Properties
K3C6H5O7
Molar mass 306.395 g/mol
Appearance white powder
hygroscopic
Odor odorless
Density 1.98 g/cm3
Melting point 180 °C (356 °F; 453 K)
Boiling point 230 °C (446 °F; 503 K)
soluble
Solubility soluble in glycerin
insoluble in ethanol (95%)
Acidity (pKa) 8.5
Pharmacology
A12BA02 (WHO)
Hazards
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
170 mg/kg (IV, dog)
5400mg/kg (oral, rat)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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As a food additive, potassium citrate is used to regulate acidity, and is known as E number E332. Medicinally, it may be used to control kidney stones derived from uric acid or cystine.

In 2020, it was the 297th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1 million prescriptions.

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