Benzoic Acid is a colorless crystalline solid with the chemical formula C6H5COOH. It is the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid. Benzoic acid occurs naturally in many plants and serves as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of many secondary metabolites. Salts of benzoic acid are used as food preservatives and benzoic acid is an important precursor for the industrial synthesis of many other organic substances.
PROPERTIES
Appearance
White Flakes
Melting point
122.4 °C
Assay (%)
99.5
Loss on Drying (%)
0.04
Color (Hazen)
16
Heavy Metal (As Pub) (PPM)
2
Chloride (As Cal) (PPM)
50
Arsenic (as As) (PPM)
2
Halogen, Halogen ide (PPM)
200 PPM
Phthisic Acid
Passed
Residue on ignition (%)
0.03
The largest use of benzoic acid is as a chemical raw material in the production of phenol, caprolactam, glycol benzoates esters, and sodium and/or potassium benzoate.
Benzoic acid is also used for preserving foods, fats, fruit juices and alkaloid solutions.
Used as ultraviolet absorber in plastics.
In medicine, benzoic acid is the principal component of benzoin resin, and is a constituent of Whitfield’s ointment which is used for the treatment of fungal skin diseases such as tine, ringworm, and athlete’s foot.
Manufacture of benzoates & benzoyl compounds, dyes; in calico printing; for curing tobacco; as stud in volumetric and calorimetric analysis are some other uses
