tartarate

Tartarate refers to a salt or ester of tartaric acid. Tartaric acid is a naturally occurring organic acid found in many fruits, most notably grapes. It is a diprotic acid with the chemical formula C4H6O6. Tartarates are formed when tartaric acid reacts with a base. For example, potassium bitartrate, commonly known as cream of tartar, is a white crystalline powder that is a byproduct of winemaking. It is used in baking, particularly in conjunction with baking soda to create leavening. Another common tartarate is Rochelle salt, also known as potassium sodium tartrate, which has applications in medicine as a laxative and in electroplating. Tartrates can also be found as food additives, often used as antioxidants or leavening agents. The specific properties of a tartarate depend on the cation with which the tartrate anion is paired. In analytical chemistry, tartaric acid and its salts are sometimes used as complexing agents.