A tricarboxylic acid trianion, obtained by deprotonation of the three carboxy groups of citric acid. California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA): Lithium Citrate can cause developmental toxicity according to state or federal government labeling requirements.ChEBI: Citrate(3-) is a tricarboxylic acid trianion, obtained by deprotonation of the three carboxy groups of citric acid. It has a role as a fundamental metabolite. It is a citrate anion and a tricarboxylic acid trianion. It is a conjugate base of a citrate(2-). It is a conjugate acid of a citrate(4-).