Creating a 15% Citric Acid Solution: A Guide

In summary: Dissolve citric acid in water and titrate it to make sure you have a 15% solution.Spread out a weighed out amount of citric acid in a pan and put it in the oven on low for 30 minutes or so. Then...Dissolve citric acid in water and titrate it to make sure you have a 15% solution.If you are not sure whether it is anhydrous or hydrous, just bake it in the oven until the mass stays constant. This will ensure that you get the anhydrous form.
  • #1
kfleming
3
0
I have a bottle of 100% pure citric acid. I would like to know how to make a 15% solution of citric acid from this.
 
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  • #2
kfleming said:
I have a bottle of 100% pure citric acid. I would like to know how to make a 15% solution of citric acid from this.
Is it hydrated solid, or is it ahnydrous? Either use the formula weight show on the bottle or look for the information in a handbook. Otherwise, you need to know the formula for citric acid (whichever form you have in your bottle) and calculate the formula weight yourself.
 
  • #3
dissolve it in H20 so it is 15% by weight
 
  • #4
gravenewworld said:
dissolve it in H20 so it is 15% by weight

Thank you for your suggestion. I was planning on making a gallon of 15% citric acid solution using H20. I'm just not sure how much citric acid to add to get a 15% solution. The citric acid is in a dry form that looks like sugar.
 
  • #5
A 15%, by weight, solution of citric acid (or for that matter, anything) means that the weight of the solute constitutes 15% of the total, mixed, weight.

For example, if you have 100 grams of a 15% solution, 15 of those grams will be citric acid and the remaining 85 grams will be due to the solvent (water).
So if you want to make 100 grams of 15% citric acid, mix 15 grams of citric acid with enough water to raise the total mass to 100 grams.

It is important to know if the citric acid you have is anhydrous citric acid or hydrated citric acid, meaning it either does or does not contain water molecules bound up within the substance (this does not mean that it has a wet appearance, it might look totally dry in fact but still be hydrated). If the citric acid is hydrated, some of its weight which you measure on a scale will be due to water and not the citric acid which will cause you to have a more dilute solution than you intended if you simply mix 15 g per 100 g of solution. In this case, you would need to calculate what percent of the measured weight is actually due to the citric acid and use this when calculating how much powder you need to dissolve.

It is very easy to dehydrate hydrated citric acid, simply heat it up for a period of time to drive off the water in the form of steam.
According to wikipedia, citric acid can possibly exist in the mono-hydrated state, but can be dehydrated by heating at temperatures over 74 °C.
 
  • #6
mrjeffy321 said:
A 15%, by weight, solution of citric acid (or for that matter, anything) means that the weight of the solute constitutes 15% of the total, mixed, weight.

For example, if you have 100 grams of a 15% solution, 15 of those grams will be citric acid and the remaining 85 grams will be due to the solvent (water).
So if you want to make 100 grams of 15% citric acid, mix 15 grams of citric acid with enough water to raise the total mass to 100 grams.

It is important to know if the citric acid you have is anhydrous citric acid or hydrated citric acid, meaning it either does or does not contain water molecules bound up within the substance (this does not mean that it has a wet appearance, it might look totally dry in fact but still be hydrated). If the citric acid is hydrated, some of its weight which you measure on a scale will be due to water and not the citric acid which will cause you to have a more dilute solution than you intended if you simply mix 15 g per 100 g of solution. In this case, you would need to calculate what percent of the measured weight is actually due to the citric acid and use this when calculating how much powder you need to dissolve.

It is very easy to dehydrate hydrated citric acid, simply heat it up for a period of time to drive off the water in the form of steam.
According to wikipedia, citric acid can possibly exist in the mono-hydrated state, but can be dehydrated by heating at temperatures over 74 °C.

Thank you for you very comprehensive answer. I will call the manufacturer to find out if it is anhydrous citric acid or hydrated citric acid. It does not indicate which it is on the bottle. Thank you again for your help.
 
  • #7
If you are not sure whether it is anhydrous or hydrous, just bake it in the oven until the mass stays constant. This will ensure that you get the anhydrous form.

Spread out a weighed out amount of citric acid in a pan and put it in the oven on low for 30 minutes or so. Then take it out and see if its weight has decreased. This will tell you if any water of crystallization has been driven off. If the mass has gone down, then put it the oven again and repeat this process until the mass stays the same. This will give your anhydrous citric acid from which you can make your 15% solution.
 

1. What is a 15% citric acid solution?

A 15% citric acid solution is a liquid solution that contains 15% of citric acid by weight. It is commonly used in various industries, such as food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and cleaning, for its acidic properties.

2. How is a 15% citric acid solution made?

A 15% citric acid solution is typically made by dissolving 15 grams of citric acid powder in 100 mL of water. The solution is then mixed thoroughly until all the citric acid is completely dissolved.

3. What are the common uses of a 15% citric acid solution?

A 15% citric acid solution has many uses, including as a flavoring agent in food and beverages, a preservative in canned foods, a cleaning agent to remove mineral deposits and stains, and a chelating agent to remove metal ions from water.

4. Is a 15% citric acid solution safe to use?

Yes, a 15% citric acid solution is generally safe to use. However, it is important to handle it with care as it is a strong acid and can cause skin and eye irritation. It is recommended to wear protective gear, such as gloves and goggles, when handling the solution.

5. How should a 15% citric acid solution be stored?

A 15% citric acid solution should be stored in a tightly sealed container at room temperature. It should also be kept away from direct sunlight and heat sources. It is important to label the container properly and keep it out of reach of children and pets.

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