How Is Citric Acid Function In Cosmetics

In order to deal with the citric acid function in cosmetics, it is necessary to know the fundamental aspects about this acid, what it is, what are its properties, both physical and chemical, its applications and how this substance is obtained.

What is citric acid?

This acid is an organic compound that in nature is present in various fruits such as oranges, tangerines, limes, lemons and other species, mainly in a fungus called Aspergillus Niger, which contains it in very high quantities, and it is also present in the conformation of all living beings on the planet.

Citric acid is a weak acid, like most of the other organic acids.

Properties of citric acid

Thanks to the characteristics it presents, there is a great citric acid function in cosmetics, and other industries such as food, this acid apart from being organic, is classified among the tricarboxylic acids, since in its formation are present three carboxyl functional groups specified as -COOH, for this reason it is also considered a tricarboxylic acid.

The molecular formula of this acid is C6H8O7, from which it can be deduced that it is formed by 6 atoms of carbon C, 8 atoms of hydrogen H, and 7 atoms of oxygen O.

The structural formula of this acid is C3H5O(COOH)3, and the half-developed formula is

HOOC - CH2 -HOC (COOH) -CH2 -COOH 

Where in both, the 3 carboxyl groups of the acid molecules are clearly observed.

It has a molar mass of 192.124 g/mol, and the density of this acid is 1.66 g/cm3, with a melting point of 175 degrees Celsius, a boiling point of 310 degrees Celsius, an acidity for 1 is 3.15, for 2 is 4.77, and for 3 is 6.40 pKa.

The solubility of citric acid is very high in liquids such as water, being 3.83 X 105 mg/L when the temperature reaches 25 degrees Celsius, it is also soluble in acetone, alcohol, ethyl ethanoate, and is soluble in polar solvents among which can be mentioned ethyl acetate, and ethanol, while it has no solubility in aromatic substances, specifically in benzene, chloroform, toluene, and xylene.

Citric acid is a substance that has the ability to release hydrogen ions, this characteristic makes it to be considered a polyprotic acid, that is, it is an acid that easily donates and accepts hydrogen bonds, which is the reason why its affinity with water is excellent.

Many of these properties give it the ability to provide an important citric acid function in cosmetics.

Citric acid function in cosmetics

Citric acid is used in cosmetics, and in a wide range of personal care products, where it serves as an ingredient in skin lightening products, in products that serve to eliminate dark spots that disfigure the face, and in items that aim to restore freshness by diminishing expression lines.

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The citric acid function in cosmetics is highlighted in products that are formulated for application to areas of the face, such as the mouth, the area near the nostrils, the lips, and the eyes.

This acid is the main ingredient in products especially dedicated to skin care for infants.

In the manufacture of body deodorants, citric acid is a fundamental ingredient, also in hair sprays used in hairdressers and beauty salons for hair care.

This acid is used in the manufacture of lipstick dyes and pigments, and is widely used in cosmetic preservatives and a wide variety of personal care products such as soaps and detergents, where it acts as a pH level controller.

Other applications of citric acid

This acid is very useful in many branches of the food industry, as a preservative, antioxidant, flavoring, and acidulant, being very useful in the manufacture of candies, confectionery products, mixtures for the preparation of soft drinks, in the carbonated beverage industry, and a wide variety of foods.

At the medical and pharmaceutical level it is used to provide effervescence and flavor to medicines, it is also used as a blood anticoagulant.

Another medical application of this acid is to eliminate bacteria considered harmful to health, as a controller of skin infections, reduction of acid in the urine, a method used to reduce gout disease.