Citric acid vs ascorbic acid
Citric acid (C6H8O7, CAS 77-92-9) and ascorbic acid (C6H8O6, CAS 50-81-7) are both listed under feed additives.
Citric acid has a molar mass of 192.12 g/mol, ascorbic acid 176.12 g/mol.
Measured melting points are 153 °C for citric acid and 190 to 192 for ascorbic acid.
Citric acid carries the GHS signal word Warning, while no signal word is recorded for ascorbic acid in our records.
On CompoundList, 1,149 suppliers list citric acid and 732 suppliers list ascorbic acid.
Data last updated 7 October 2026
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Name in our database | Citric acid | L-Ascorbic acid |
| CAS number | 77-92-9 | 50-81-7 |
| Molecular formula | C6H8O7 | C6H8O6 |
| Molar mass | 192.12 g/mol | 176.12 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid | (2R)-2-[(1S)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl]-3,4-dihydroxy-2H-furan-5-one |
| EC number | 201-069-1 | 200-066-2 |
| Physical properties | ||
| Appearance | Crystals, monoclinic holohedra, crystallizes from hot concentrated aqueous solution | Crystals (usually plates, sometimes needles, monoclinic system) |
| Melting point | 153 °C | 190 to 192 |
| Boiling point | Decomposes | Not recorded |
| Density | 1.665 g/cm³ at 20 °C | 1.65 g/cm³ at 25 °C |
| Flash point | 100 °C | Not recorded |
| Solubility | In water, 3.83 × 10⁺⁵ mg/L at 25 °C | 1 g dissolves in about 3 ml of water. |
| LogP (octanol/water)Computed from the structure | -1.25 | -1.41 |
| Safety (GHS) | ||
| Signal word | Warning | None |
| Pictograms | None | |
| Hazard statements |
| No hazard statements recorded |
| Uses and classification | ||
| Uses and functions |
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| Category | Food and feed additives › Acidulants and acidity regulators | Pharmaceuticals and APIs › Vitamins and nutraceutical actives |
| HS code | 291814Citric acid | 293627Vitamin C and its derivatives |
| Market on CompoundList | ||
| Suppliers | 1,149 suppliers | 732 suppliers |
| Supplier countries | 85 countries, most in India, United States, China | 73 countries, most in China, India, United States |
| Price rangeOnly prices set by suppliers who manage their own profile | Price on request | Price on request |
Measured and computed values as shown on each chemical page, plus live listings on CompoundList. Details may have changed, please confirm them with the supplier. Safety data is a summary, not an SDS.
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