Citratum

Citratum is a term that can refer to several different things, primarily relating to citrate or citric acid. In chemistry, it is often used as an adjective meaning "containing citrate" or "derived from citric acid." For example, a metal citratum would be a salt where citrate is the anion. Citric acid itself is a weak organic acid with the chemical formula C6H8O7. It is a naturally occurring chemical compound found in citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges, and it is also produced industrially through fermentation.

In medicine, citratum may appear in the names of certain pharmaceutical preparations, indicating the presence of citrate. For instance, magnesium citratum might be a pharmaceutical form of magnesium citrate, often used as a laxative or to supplement magnesium levels. Similarly, potassium citratum would refer to potassium citrate, which can be used to prevent kidney stones by making urine less acidic.

The term can also be encountered in older botanical or zoological classifications, though this usage is less common today. In such contexts, it might refer to a species or variety that is notably tart, acidic, or bears resemblance to citrus fruits in some way. However, the primary and most frequent meaning of citratum relates to the chemical compound citrate or citric acid and its derivatives.