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Citric Acid Monohydrate: A Staple in Raw Material Chemistry

What is Citric Acid Monohydrate?

Citric Acid Monohydrate forms as a colorless, crystalline solid, with a well-known tangy taste many people first experienced as children biting into a sour candy or drinking lemonade. Chemically, this compound carries the molecular formula C6H8O7·H2O, marking it as a hydrated version of citric acid, and providing a subtle nod to why it behaves differently than the anhydrous form. This hydration impacts its density, solubility, and how quickly it dissolves in water. People handling raw materials see Citric Acid Monohydrate as a critical component for adjusting pH, enhancing flavors, or stabilizing mixtures, and its molecular weight comes in at 210.14 g/mol thanks to the extra water molecule. The unique crystalline structure—visible under a microscope and sometimes showing as clear flakes or small pearls—gives it qualities that tablets, drink mixes, and cleaning agents require.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Until you see citric acid monohydrate in action, it’s easy to overlook how a white, nearly odorless crystal powers massive industries. Its density stands at about 1.542 g/cm3. When you add it to a liter of water, it dissolves readily, forming a clear, slightly acidic solution that can soften water, preserve canned foods, or even unblock a coffee machine. Citric Acid Monohydrate melts around 100°C, losing its water and turning into the anhydrous form—a useful property in food manufacture and pharmaceuticals where moisture content makes a difference in storage and shelf life. The material flows easily as a fine powder or can arrive as chunky flakes, depending on production needs, giving manufacturers flexibility in different environments. In terms of hazard, people need to respect its irritant nature; skin or eye contact can cause discomfort. Although non-toxic in usual amounts, industrial exposure needs care and personal protection. Whether it appears as granules, powder, or larger crystals, it remains totally water soluble, and the solubility increases with temperature, letting product formulators adjust concentrations on the fly.

Material Specifications and Forms

People in factories or labs find Citric Acid Monohydrate showing up in multiple forms—solid, fine powder, coarse flakes, pearls, and even pre-mixed into liquids. These variations answer to equipment specs, dust control, or metering machinery easier. Food and beverage producers find powder helpful for quick blending into mixes, while pharmaceutical suppliers prefer fine crystalline solid for precision dosing. Its HS Code, 29181400, separates it under acid chemicals for customs and international shipping. Pure grades hit above 99.5% content, which makes it compatible for use not just in foods but also as reagent in high-end laboratory protocols where impurities would cause headaches.

Structure and Function in Industry

Chemically, the structure of Citric Acid Monohydrate gives it three carboxyl groups. These functional sites allow the molecule to bond with metals or buffer pH in nearly any solution. You find it stabilizing Vitamin C drinks, increasing acidity in jams, or binding minerals in detergents. The hydration makes it a bit heavier but easier to handle in humid conditions; it resists caking better than some anhydrous acids. This matters to logistics experts who lose product to clumping during transport. The chemical’s chelating ability lets it trap metal ions in water, making it valuable in water softeners and as a cleaner in breweries or dairies. One application people sometimes overlook is in cosmetics, where gentle exfoliation relies on the acid’s safe, mild touch on skin.

Safety, Hazards, and Handling

Lab coats or warehouse staff read the safety sheet for Citric Acid Monohydrate and see clear advice: avoid breathing in the dust, use gloves to prevent skin irritation, and always rinse immediately after any accidental eye contact. Chemical suppliers classify it as an irritant, not deeply harmful, yet poor handling over time could inflame airways or skin, making respirators and proper ventilation more than just afterthoughts. It’s not flammable, doesn’t generate toxic vapors when stored or shipped, and as a chemical, it’s far less hazardous than many of the cleaning or preservative substances used before it. Disposal follows standard procedures for organic acids—dilution with plenty of water, and never just tossed in the trash. Emergency instructions make extra sense here for bulk users with powder handling or production lines, where a heavy spill could prove both messy and unsafe for direct skin contact.

Role as a Raw Material Across Sectors

The reason Citric Acid Monohydrate keeps getting called into new product launches comes down to its broad compatibility and ease of control. From dish tabs to sodas, even in complex bioreactor processes, this molecule proves reliable, cost-effective, and safe. Its presence in the food industry is nearly universal, and it appears in pharmaceuticals as a buffering or flavoring agent, in cosmetics for gentle acidity, and even in industrial cleaners. Textile processors rely on it for pH adjustment, while cheesemakers depend on precise dosing to set curds. The healthcare, food processing, and environmental sectors, all value its low toxicity, mild environmental impact, and absence of hazardous breakdown products. With demand for safe raw materials that come with clear provenance, transparency, and regulatory approval, Citric Acid Monohydrate remains a top pick, tested by decades of safe, reliable use, and the sort of chemical backbone every supply chain needs.