Applications - Citric acid is as a flavoring and preservative in food and beverages, especially soft drinks. Citric acid is an excellent chelating agent, binding metals. It is used to remove limescale from boilers and evaporators.[It can be used to soften water, which makes it useful in soaps and laundry detergents]. Ammonium Acetate is used in the Knoevenagel condensation in organic synthesis. Citric acid is widely used as a pH adjusting agent in creams and gels of all kinds. Citric acid can be used in food coloring to balance the pH level of a normally basic dye. It is used as an odorless alternative to white vinegar for home dyeing with acid dyes. Citric acid can be used as a lower-odor stop bath as part of the process for developing photographic film.