What type of acid is sodium oxalate categorized under?

Sodium oxalate is categorized as a buffering agent because it helps maintain a stable pH in solutions. Buffers function by neutralizing acids and bases, minimizing fluctuations in pH levels, which is especially important in biological and chemical systems. In the context of laboratory settings, sodium oxalate can be used in blood collection tubes to prevent coagulation by maintaining the pH required for accurate analysis of blood samples.

While sodium oxalate does have anticoagulant properties, it is primarily recognized for its role in buffering, which is why it falls under that category in this context. The other categories, such as surfactant or reodorant, do not apply to sodium oxalate as it does not serve those functions.