Citric acid
Citric acid is a tricarboxylic acid that is propane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid bearing a hydroxy substituent at position 2. It is an important metabolite in the pathway of all aerobic organisms. It has a role as a calcium chelator, an antimicrobial agent, a chelator, a food acidity regulator and a fundamental metabolite. It is a conjugate acid of a citrate anion and a citrate(1-).
IUPAC: 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid
PubChem
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Melting Point | 307 °F (anhydrous) (NTP, 1992) |
| Boiling Point | Decomposes (NTP, 1992) |
| Density | 1.54 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink |
| Solubility | greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 72 °F (NTP, 1992) |
| Flash Point | 100 °C |
| Appearance | Citric acid appears as colorless, odorless crystals with an acid taste. Denser than water. (USCG, 1999) |
Data: PubChem · Last updated: 4/20/2026
GHS Classification
No GHS classification data available.
Classification data is sourced from ECHA.
Regulatory Compliance
Listed
note: Status based on EPA TSCA Active Inventory · inventory name: TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory
View sourceGlobal Trade Intelligence
No trade flow data available for this chemical.
HS Code(s): 2918
Data: UN Comtrade
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