Potassium citrate tribasic monohydrate (CAS 6100-05-6)

Potassium citrate tribasic monohydrate is a key chemical utilized primarily for its buffering and chelating properties in various scientific research contexts. This compound effectively regulates pH in biochemical solutions, making it indispensable in studies requiring precise pH control, such as enzymatic reactions and nucleic acid extractions. The buffering capacity of potassium citrate helps maintain enzyme stability and activity, facilitating accurate biochemical assays and experiments. Moreover, its ability to chelate metal ions enhances its utility in molecular biology, particularly in the preparation of buffers used in DNA and RNA isolation procedures, where it helps protect nucleic acids from degradation by metal-dependent enzymes. Potassium citrate is also extensively used in crystallography research to improve the quality of protein crystals. By modulating the ionic strength of solutions, it promotes the formation of well-ordered, large crystals, essential for X-ray crystallography studies aimed at determining molecular structures. In addition, this chemical finds applications in the synthesis of nanoparticles, where it acts as a stabilizing agent to control particle size and prevent aggregation, crucial for the development of advanced materials with specific optical and electronic properties. Through these diverse research applications, potassium citrate tribasic monohydrate plays a critical role in advancing scientific knowledge across various disciplines.