Tricarboxylic acid

A tricarboxylic acid is an organic carboxylic acid that contain three carboxyl functional groups (−COOH). A well-known example is citric acid.

Prominent examples

Some prominent substituted tricarboxylic acids

Citric acid, is used in the citric acid cyclealso known as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle or Krebs cyclewhich is fundamental to all aerobic organisms.

Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) is a chelating agent for Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Fe³⁺.

See also

• Citric acid cycle (tricarboxylic acid cycle)
• Dicarboxylic acid
• Mellitic acid
• Nitrilotriacetic acid

References

Literature