Citric acid can act as a mild chelating agent; citrate, usually in the form of trisodium citrate, may be given as an anticoagulant, because it chelates calcium ions, and therefore inhibits coagulation.
Citric acid can act as a mild chelating agent. Because of this ability, citrate, usually in the form of trisodium citrate, may be given as an anticoagulant, because it chelates calcium ions and therefore inhibits coagulation.