Sodium citrate is a sodium salt of citric acid, a compound found naturally in citrus fruits. It is used in the food industry as a food additive and in the cosmetics industry as a pH control agent. Sodium citrate is also used as a chelating agent, which means it can bind to certain minerals and prevent their precipitation. This makes it useful in personal care products such as deodorants, toothpastes, and bath products, where it helps stabilize formulations and control enzyme activity.