BENZOIC ACID

Definition and Usage Areas of Benzoic acid

Benzoic acid C6H5COOH is a colorless solid crystalline and simple aromatic carboxylic acid. The name is derived from chewing gum benzoin, which for a long time was the only known source. Benzoic acid is found 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 C6H5COOH is an important precursor for the industrial synthesis of many organic substances. salts and esters of C6H5COOH are known as benzoates.
Usage areas

• It is used to prevent microbial spoilage in foods.
• The most used areas are fruit juice, marmalade, jam, carbonated drinks, pickles, ketchup and similar products.
• C6H5COOH and its salts are used as preservatives in acidic and weakly acidic foods and are an important precursor for the synthesis of most organic substances.
• 90% of commercially available C6H5COOH is directly converted to phenol and caprolactam.
• In cosmetics, C6H5COOH is also found in the ingredients of shampoos, perfumes, shaving foams, hair sprays and hair dyes.
• It is included in the content of chemicals added to the coolant part of automobile antifreezes.
• It is included in tobacco spraying and other insecticide ingredients.
• It is used as a standard reference in analytical chemistry laboratories.
• It is used in fungal diseases of the skin in the form of Whitfield Ointment.

Although it’s not the most-dangerous chemical you might find in the workplace, proper handling of C6H5COOH is a must to avoid injuries and health risks while on the job.Benzoic acid is a white, crystalline powder with a faint, non-offensive odor. It is a compound naturally found in many plants and is an important precursor for the synthesis of many other organic substances.

Benzoic acid is most commonly found in industrial settings to manufacture a wide variety of products such as perfumes, dyes, topical medications and insect repellents.