BASF
manufacturer
Ingredient Profile
Organic acid for pH adjustment, buffering support, and chelation in aqueous industrial and consumer formulations.
INCI Name: Citric Acid
CAS Number: 77-92-9
IUPAC Name: 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid
EC Number: 201-069-1
Molecular Formula: C6H8O7
Ionic Type: Nonionic acid / ionizable in water
Chemical Family: N/A
Abbreviations: N/A
Citric Acid is an organic acid used for pH adjustment, buffering support, chelation, and acidity control across formulations.
Citric Acid is a multifunctional organic acid widely used to adjust pH, support buffering, provide mild chelation, and control acidity. It appears in personal care, home care, HI&I, food-related, water treatment, and technical formulations depending on purity grade and regulatory context.
Available as anhydrous and monohydrate grades. Assay, heavy metals, moisture, particle size, and grade-specific compliance depend on supplier documentation.
Typical Use Level: Commonly used around 0.05-5% depending on target pH, buffering demand, and application requirements.
Solubility: Highly water soluble
pH Range: N/A
Functional Role: pH adjuster, acidulant, buffering component, and mild chelating agent.
| Property | Value | Unit | Source / Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | White crystalline powder or granules | N/A | Typical commercial form |
| Assay | 99 - 100.5 | % | Grade dependent |
| Molecular Weight | 192.12 | g/mol | Anhydrous citric acid |
| Solubility Water | Highly water soluble | N/A | Typical behavior |
| pH | Acidic in aqueous solution | N/A | Concentration dependent |
| Moisture Content | Grade dependent | N/A | Anhydrous versus monohydrate |
Strong Alkalis
status: limited | Neutralization can be exothermic; add with process control
Water
status: compatible | Highly soluble in water
Alkalis
status: compatible | Neutralizes with alkalis to form citrate salts; heat and CO2 are not typical concerns but pH should be controlled
manufacturer
manufacturer
Review and verify supplier SDS/TDS before handling, scale-up, or commercial use. Citric acid dust may irritate eyes and respiratory tract; use appropriate dust control and PPE.
Regulatory suitability depends on grade, purity, market, application, and region. Confirm current requirements using supplier documentation and applicable local rules.