Citric acid is widely used in the food and beverage industry as a flavor enhancer and preservative. It adds a tangy taste to soft drinks, candies, and canned fruits while also preventing spoilage by controlling pH levels. In cleaning products, it acts as a natural chelating agent, effectively removing hard water stains, rust, and lime scale from surfaces. It is also a key ingredient in cosmetics and personal care items, where it helps adjust pH, stabilize formulations, and act as an antioxidant. In pharmaceuticals, citric acid is used to improve the absorption of active ingredients and as a flavoring agent in syrups and tablets. Additionally, it plays a role in water treatment processes by reducing metal ion concentrations and preventing corrosion in pipelines.