Calcium citrate - Definition and Overview

Calcium citrate is the calcium salt of citric acid. It is commonly used as a food additive, usually as a preservative, but sometimes for flavor. In this sense, it is similar to sodium citrate. Calcium citrate is also used as a water softener.

Like citric acid, calcium citrate has a sour taste. Like other salts, however, it also has a salty taste. For this reason, citrates such as sodium and calcium citrate are common known as sour salt.

Calcium citrate is used as a water softener because the citrate chelates unwanted metal ions.

Example Usage of Calcium