sitraatteihin

Sitraatit, commonly known as citrates in English, are salts or esters of citric acid. Citric acid is a weak organic acid found naturally in citrus fruits, giving them their characteristic tart taste. In chemistry, citrates are formed when the hydrogen ions of citric acid are replaced by a metal ion (in the case of salts) or by an organic group (in the case of esters).

The most common citrate is calcium citrate, often used as a dietary supplement to provide calcium. Another significant citrate is sodium citrate, which has various applications. It acts as an anticoagulant in blood transfusions by binding calcium ions, which are essential for blood clotting. Sodium citrate is also used as a food additive (E331) to control acidity, emulsify fats, and as a preservative. Potassium citrate is another important citrate, used in medicine to prevent kidney stones by increasing urine citrate levels and making urine less acidic.

Citrates play a crucial role in biological processes. They are intermediates in the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle), a central metabolic pathway in aerobic organisms that generates energy by oxidizing acetyl-CoA. This cycle is fundamental to cellular respiration in plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria.

In industry, citrates are utilized in detergents as builders to soften water and enhance cleaning efficiency, though their use has decreased with the advent of more effective chelating agents. They are also found in some pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The safety of citrates as food additives is generally recognized, with regulatory bodies establishing acceptable daily intake levels.