Potassium citrate

Potassium citrate

IUPAC name tripotassium citrate
Identifiers
CAS number	866-84-2^Y
PubChem	13344
ChemSpider	12775^Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL1200458^N
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES [K+].[K+].[K+].O=C([O-])CC(O)(C([O-])=O)CC(=O)[O-]
InChI InChI=1S/C6H8O7.3K/c7-3(8)1-6(13,5(11)12)2-4(9)10;;;/h13H,1-2H2,(H,7,8)(H,9,10)(H,11,12);;;/q;3+1/p-3^Y Key: QEEAPRPFLLJWCF-UHFFFAOYSA-K^Y InChI=1/C6H8O7.3K/c7-3(8)1-6(13,5(11)12)2-4(9)10;;;/h13H,1-2H2,(H,7,8)(H,9,10)(H,11,12);;;/q;3+1/p-3 Key: QEEAPRPFLLJWCF-DFZHHIFOAD
Properties
Molecular formula	C₆H₅K₃O₇
Molar mass	306.395 g/mol
Appearance	white powder hygroscopic
Odor	odorless
Density	1.98 g/cm³
Melting point	180 °C^[1]
Boiling point	230 °C^[1]
Solubility in water	soluble
Solubility	soluble in glycerin insoluble in ethanol (95%)
Hazards
LD₅₀	170 mg/kg (IV, dog)
N (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Potassium citrate is a potassium salt of citric acid with the molecular formula C₆H₅K₃O₇. It is a white, slightly hygroscopic crystalline powder. It is odorless with a saline taste.

As a food additive, potassium citrate is used to regulate acidity and is known as E number E332. Medicinally, it may be used to control kidney stones derived from either uric acid or cystine.

1 Uses
2 Administration
3 External links
4 References

Uses

Potassium citrate is rapidly absorbed when given by mouth and is excreted in the urine as the carbonate. It is, therefore, effective in reducing the pain and frequency of urination when these are caused by highly acidic urine. It is used for this purpose in dogs and cats, but is chiefly employed as a non-irritating diuretic.

Potassium citrate is an effective way to treat/manage gout and arrhythmia, if the patient is hypokalemic. In common with other substances that render the urine alkaline, it may be used to reduce the danger of crystalluria during sulfonamide therapy.

It is widely used to treat urinary calculi (kidney stones), and is often used by patients with cystinuria. A study of 500 patients with recurrent stones found that it reduced the frequency of stones from 2 per year to a half per year. It is also used in many soft drinks as a buffering agent.

It is also used as an alkanising agent in the treatment of mild urinary tract infections such as cystitis^[2]

Administration

Potassium citrate is usually administered by mouth in dilute aqueous solution. This is because of its somewhat caustic effect on the stomach lining, and the potential for other mild health hazards.

The maximum allowable over-the-counter (OTC) dose for elemental potassium is regulated by the FDA to be no more than 100 mg (approximately 3% of the daily allowance). Pure potassium citrate contains 38.28% potassium.