BENZOIC ACID

Cas number: 65-85-0
EC number: 200-618-2

synonyms:
benzoic acid; 65-85-0; Dracylic acid; benzenecarboxylic acid; Carboxybenzene; Benzeneformic acid; phenylformic acid Benzenemethanoic acid; Phenylcarboxylic acid; Retardex; Benzoesaeure GK; Benzoesaeure GV; Retarder BA ; Tenn-Plas; Acide benzoique; Salvo liquid; Solvo powder; Benzoesaeure; Flowers of benzoin; Flowers ofbenjamin; Benzoic acid, tech.; Unisept BZA; HA 1 (acid); Kyselina benzoova; Benzoic acid (natural);Benzoate (VAN); HA 1; Benzoesaeure [German]; Caswell No. 081; Diacylic acid; Oracylic acid; Acide benzoique [French];Acido benzoico [Italian]; Benzenemethonic acid; Kyselina benzoova [Czech]; NSC 149;E 210; Benzoicacid; FEMA No. 2131; CCRIS1893; HSDB 704; UNII-8SKN0B0MIM; AI3-0310; Salvo, liquid;Solvo, powder; AI3-03710; Benzoic acid [USAN:JAN]; EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 009101; Benzoic acid Natural;C7H6O2; E210; CHEBI:30746; Aromatic carboxylic acid; EINECS 200-618-2;WPYMKLBDIGXBTP-UHFFFAOYSA-N; Benzeneformate; Phenylformate; Tennplas; MFCD00002398; SBB040515; Benzenemethanoate; Benzenecarboxylate; Retarded BA;DSSTox_CID_143; Phenyl carboxylic acid; DSSTox_RID_75396; DSSTox_GSID_20143;Benzoic acid, ammonium salt; Acido benzoico; CAS-65-85-0; NSC7918; Benzoic acid, tech;Benzoic acid (TN); Benzoic acid [USP:JAN]; phenylcarboxy; Diacylate; Dracylate,Aromatic acid; Salvo powder; Carboxypolystyrene; MP Benzoic acid; Retarder BAX;1gyx; 1kqb; phenyl formic acid; Benzoic Acid USP; Sodium benzoic acid; Natural Benzoic Acid;Benzoic acid,medicinal; Benzoic acid / Benzoate; WLN: QVR; BENZOIC ACID, ACS; 8SKN0B0MIM; BENZOIC ACID- D5;bmse000300; CHEMBL541; Epitope ID:139965; AC1L18SV; AC1Q73KP; SCHEMBL1378;ACMC-1BI02; SAMPL4, O1; PHENYL, 4-CARBOXY-; Benzoic acid (JP17/USP); KSC352Q8R;MLS002415717; ARONIS27062; BIDD:ER0597; Benzoic acid, AR, >=99%; Benzoic acid, LR, >=99%;Benzoic acid, 99% 250g; NSC149; ZINC1011; DTXSID6020143; ScavengePore™ benzoic acid; CTK2F2888;HMDB01870; Benzoic acid (7CI,8CI,9CI); Benzoic acid, analytical standard; Benzoic acid, p.a., 99.5%;NSC-149; MolPort-000-871-563; BDBM197302; HMS2092F18; HMS2267D03;HMS3652B03; Pharmakon1600-01503001; Tox21_202403; Tox21_300180;ANW-35104; ANW-44013; BENZOIC ACID,99%,EXTRA PURE; LS-280; MFCD03456189;NSC758203; STK301730; Benzoic acid, ReagentPlus(R), 99%; AKOS000119619; AS04617;BS-3752; CCG-213088; DB03793; LS41489; MCULE-4467353796; NE10192;NSC-758203; RL04514; RTR-032704; TRA0015745; TRA0068106; Benzoic acid, >=99.5%, FCC, FG;Benzoic acid, ACS reagent, >=99.5%; NCGC00091886-01; NCGC00091886-02; NCGC00091886-03; NCGC00254112-01;NCGC00259952-01; 117500-35-3; 4CN-0999; AJ-07949; AK109354; AN-22195; AN-23749;Benzoic acid, USP, 99.5-100.5%; BP-30148; BT000118; K073; KB-75310; OR033950;OR320218; OR321743; SC-46861; SMR001252220; Benzoic acid, tested according to Ph.Eur.; SBI-0206720.P001; AB1002068;Benzoic acid, SAJ first grade, >=99.5%; DB-029471; RT-004576; TR-035735; 606-EP2269610A2;606-EP2269988A2; 606-EP2270002A1; 606-EP2270006A1; 606-EP2270008A1; 606-EP2270009A1; 606-EP2270010A1;606-EP2270011A1; 606-EP2270114A1; 606-EP2272822A1; 606-EP2272827A1; 606-EP2272848A1; 606-EP2274983A1;606-EP2275105A1; 606-EP2275401A1; 606-EP2275413A1; 606-EP2277507A1; 606-EP2277848A1; 606-EP2277867A2;606-EP2277870A1; 606-EP2277879A1; 606-EP2277881A1; 606-EP2280003A2; 606-EP2280010A2; 606-EP2281559A1,606-EP2281563A1; 606-EP2281812A1; 606-EP2281819A1; 606-EP2281823A2; 606-EP2284146A2; 606-EP2284147A2;606-EP2284149A1; 606-EP2284160A1; 606-EP2284165A1; 606-EP2284169A1; 606-EP2284178A2; 606-EP2284179A2;606-EP2377845A1; B0062; B2635; FT-0622705; ST24030107; ST45061539;Benzoic acid,natural, >=99.5%, FCC, FG;Benzoic acid, SAJ special grade, >=99.5%; Benzoic acid, Vetec(TM) reagent grade, 98%;Benzoic acid on polystyrene, 1.6-2.1 mmol/g; Benzoic acid, meets USP testing specifications;Benzoic acid, purified by sublimation, >=99%; C00180; C00539; D00038; AB00949635_05; AB00949635_06;A835250; SR-05000001919; Benzoic acid, puriss. p.a., ACS reagent, 99.9%; I01-1943;SR-05000001919-1; 0BE368DC-6DE6-4927-AECF-E4BB2968A4A0; Melting point standard 121-123C, analytical standard;Z57127480; F2191-0092; Benzoic acid, NIST(R) SRM(R) 39j,calorimetric standard;Benzoic acid, Standard for quantitative NMR, TraceCERT(R); S4161,6585-0;S4162,121-54-0,Benzoic acid, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard; Benzoic acid, for calorimetrical determination (approx. 26460 J/g);
Benzoic acid, pharmaceutical secondary standard; traceable to USP; Benzoic acid, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference StandardBenzoic acid，4-fluoro-2,6dimethyl-， methyl ester; InChI=1/C7H6O2/c8-7(9)6-4-2-1-3-5-6/h1-5H,(H,8,9;;Benzoic acid, puriss. p.a., ACS reagent, reag. Ph. Eur., >=99.9% (alkalimetric); 331473-08-6;8013-63-6; Benzoic acid, certified reference material for titrimetry, certified by BAM according to ISO 17025, >=99.5%;Benzoic acid, meets analytical specification of Ph. Eur., BP, USP, FCC, E210, ;99.5-100.5% (alkalimetric); BOX;Carboxypolystyrene, 100-200 mesh, extent of labeling: 0.5-1.5 mmol/g loading, 1 % cross-linked;Carboxypolystyrene, 100-200 mesh, extent of labeling: 1.6-3.0 mmol/g loading, 1 % cross-linked;Mettler-Toledo Calibration substance ME 18555, Benzoic acid, analytical standard,;for the calibration of the thermosystem 900, traceable to primary standards (LGC);ScavengePore(TM) benzoic acid, macroporous, 40-70 mesh, extent of labeling: 0.5-1.5 mmol per g loading;Acide benzoique    ;Aromatic carboxylic acid; Benzenecarboxylic acid; Benzeneformic acid    ;Benzenemethanoic acid; Benzoesaeure; Dracylic acid; e210; Phenylcarboxylic acid;Phenylformic acid; Benzoate; Aromatic carboxylate; Benzenecarboxylate; Benzeneformate; Benzenemethanoate; Dracylate; Phenylcarboxylate; Phenylformate;Benzenemethonic acid; Benzoic acid sodium salt; Carboxybenzene; Diacylate    ;Diacylic acid; Oracylic acid; Sodium benzoate; Sodium benzoic acid;Acid, benzoic    MeSH; Kendall brand OF benzoic acid sodium salt; Benzoate, potassium; Potassium benzoate; Ucephan;Benzoic acid (IUPAC Name); benzene carboxylic acid; Benzenecarboxylic acid; benzeneformic acid; Benzenemethanoic acid;Phenylformate; Benzenecarboxylic acid; Benzeneformic acid; Benzenemethanoic acid; Benzoesaeure GK; Benzoesaeure GV ;Carboxybenzene; Dracylic acid; Phenylcarboxylic acid; Phenylformic acid; Retarder BA; Retardex; Salvo, liquid; Solvo, powder ;Tenn-Plas; Acide benzoique; Benzoic acid, tech.; Kyselina benzoova; Benzoesaeure; Salvo powder; E 210; HA 1; HA 1 (acid);Phenylcarboxy; Benzenemethonic acid; Diacylic acid; Flowers of benjamin; Flowers of benzoin; Oracylic acid; Retarder BAX; NSC 149;Bronsted-Lowry acid, Bronsted acid, carboxylate, acetic acid, acrylic acid,methacrylic acid, formic acid, fumaric acid,ethanoic acid, malonic acid, maleic acid, salicyclic acid, succinic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, lactic acid, propionic acid, propanoic acid, pyruvic acid, tartaric acid, mesotartaric acid, racemic acid, meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid,peracetic acid, acetoacetic acid, arachidic acid, arachidonic acid, lauric acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, myristic acid, oleic acid,palmitic acid, stearic acid, amino acid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, ascorbic acid, folic acid, formaldehyde, formyl group,hydroxyl group, carbonyl group; benzoikasit; benzoik asit; benzoik asid; benzoikasid; benzoikacit; benzoik acit;benzoik asid; benzoyik asit; benzoyik acid; Benzoik Acid; Benzoik acid; benzoik Acid; BENZOIK ACID; BENZOIK ASİT; KARBOKSİBENZEN; karboksibenzen; karboksi benzen; benzoikacid; benzenkarboksilikasit; benzen karboksilitasit; benzen karboksilikacid; Benzoyik Acite; Benzoyik Acite; benzenkarboksilikacit; benzoicasit;benzoic acit; benzoic asid; Benzoic asid; Benzoik Asit; Benzoic Asit; Benzoik asit; Benzoyik asit; benzoyik asit; benzoyic acit; benzoik acit; benzoyik acide; benzoyik acide; Benzoik Acit; Benzoyik Acide; Benzoyik Acide; benzoyik acite; benzoyik acite; Benzoik Acit; BENZOIK Acit; BENZOİK ASİT; BENZOİK ACİD; BENZOİK ASİDE; benzoikasit; acide benzoique; acide benzoic; L'acide benzoique; L' acide benzoic;  Benzoik Asit; Benzoic Asit; Benzoik asit; Benzoyik asit; benzoyik asit; benzoyic acit; benzoik acit; benzoyik acide; benzoyik acide

Benzoic acid

Benzoic acid appears as a white crystalline solid. Slightly soluble in water. The primary hazard is the potential for environmental damage if released. Immediate steps should be taken to limit spread to the environment. Used to make other chemicals, as a food preservative, and for other uses.

Benzoic acid is a compound comprising a benzene ring core carrying a carboxylic acid substituent. It has a role as an antimicrobial food preservative, an EC 3.1.1.3 (triacylglycerol lipase) inhibitor, an EC 1.13.11.33 (arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase) inhibitor, a plant metabolite, a human xenobiotic metabolite, an algal metabolite and a drug allergen. It is a conjugate acid of a benzoate.

Phenylbutyrate and sodium benzoate are orphan drugs approved for the treatment of hyperammonemia in patients with urea cycle disorders, a series of at least 8 rare genetic enzyme deficiencies. The urea cycle is the major pathway of elimination of excess nitrogen including ammonia, and absence of one of the urea cycle enzymes often causes elevations in serum ammonia which can be severe, life-threatening and result in permanent neurologic damage and cognitive deficiencies. Both phenylbutyrate and sodium benzoate act by promoting an alternative pathway of nitrogen elimination. Neither phenylbutyrate nor sodium benzoate have been linked to cases of liver injury either in the form of serum enzyme elevations during therapy or clinically apparent acute liver injury

Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Benzoic acid[1]
Systematic IUPAC name
Benzenecarboxylic acid
Other names
Carboxybenzene
E210
Dracylic acid
Phenylmethanoic acid
BzOH
Identifiers
CAS Number
65-85-0 ☑ 
Benzoic acid /bɛnˈzoʊ.ɪk/ is a white (or colorless) solid with the formula C6H5CO2H. It is the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid. The name is derived from gum benzoin, which was for a long time its only source. Benzoic acid occurs naturally in many plants[9] and serves as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of many secondary metabolites. Salts of benzoic acid are used as food preservatives. Benzoic acid is an important precursor for the industrial synthesis of many other organic substances. The salts and esters of benzoic acid are known as benzoates /ˈbɛnzoʊ.eɪt/.

History
Benzoic acid was discovered in the sixteenth century. The dry distillation of gum benzoin was first described by Nostradamus (1556), and then by Alexius Pedemontanus (1560) and Blaise de Vigenère (1596).[10]

Justus von Liebig and Friedrich Wöhler determined the composition of benzoic acid.[11] These latter also investigated how hippuric acid is related to benzoic acid.

In 1875 Salkowski discovered the antifungal abilities of benzoic acid, which was used for a long time in the preservation of benzoate-containing cloudberry fruits.[12]

It is also one of the chemical compounds found in castoreum. This compound is gathered from the castor sacs of the North American beaver.

Production
Industrial preparations
Benzoic acid is produced commercially by partial oxidation of toluene with oxygen. The process is catalyzed by cobalt or manganese naphthenates. The process uses abundant materials, and proceeds in high yield.[13]

toluene oxidation
The first industrial process involved the reaction of benzotrichloride (trichloromethyl benzene) with calcium hydroxide in water, using iron or iron salts as catalyst. The resulting calcium benzoate is converted to benzoic acid with hydrochloric acid. The product contains significant amounts of chlorinated benzoic acid derivatives. For this reason, benzoic acid for human consumption was obtained by dry distillation of gum benzoin. Food-grade benzoic acid is now produced synthetically.

Laboratory synthesis
Benzoic acid is cheap and readily available, so the laboratory synthesis of benzoic acid is mainly practiced for its pedagogical value. It is a common undergraduate preparation.

Benzoic acid can be purified by recrystallization from water because of its high solubility in hot water and poor solubility in cold water. The avoidance of organic solvents for the recrystallization makes this experiment particularly safe. This process usually gives a yield of around 65% [14]

By hydrolysis
Like other nitriles and amides, benzonitrile and benzamide can be hydrolyzed to benzoic acid or its conjugate base in acid or basic conditions.

From Grignard reagent
Bromobenzene can be converted to benzoic acid by "carboxylation" of the intermediate phenylmagnesium bromide.[15] This synthesis offers a convenient exercise for students to carry out a Grignard reaction, an important class of carbon–carbon bond forming reaction in organic chemistry.[16][17][18][19][20]

Oxidation of benzyl compounds
Benzyl alcohol[21][22] and benzyl chloride and virtually all benzyl derivatives are readily oxidized to benzoic acid.

Uses
Benzoic acid is mainly consumed in the production of phenol by oxidative decarboxylation at 300−400 °C:[23]

Precursor to plasticizers
Benzoate plasticizers, such as the glycol-, diethyleneglycol-, and triethyleneglycol esters, are obtained by transesterification of methyl benzoate with the corresponding diol. Alternatively these species arise by treatment of benzoyl chloride with the diol. These plasticizers are used similarly to those derived from terephthalic acid ester.

Precursor to sodium benzoate and related preservatives
Benzoic acid and its salts are used as a food preservatives, represented by the E numbers E210, E211, E212, and E213. Benzoic acid inhibits the growth of mold, yeast[24] and some bacteria. It is either added directly or created from reactions with its sodium, potassium, or calcium salt. The mechanism starts with the absorption of benzoic acid into the cell. If the intracellular pH changes to 5 or lower, the anaerobic fermentation of glucose through phosphofructokinase is decreased by 95%. The efficacy of benzoic acid and benzoate is thus dependent on the pH of the food.[25] Acidic food and beverage like fruit juice (citric acid), sparkling drinks (carbon dioxide), soft drinks (phosphoric acid), pickles (vinegar) or other acidified food are preserved with benzoic acid and benzoates.

Typical levels of use for benzoic acid as a preservative in food are between 0.05–0.1%. Foods in which benzoic acid may be used and maximum levels for its application are controlled by local food laws.[26][27]

Concern has been expressed that benzoic acid and its salts may react with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in some soft drinks, forming small quantities of carcinogenic benzene.[28]

See also: Benzene in soft drinks
Medicinal
Benzoic acid is a constituent of Whitfield's ointment which is used for the treatment of fungal skin diseases such as tinea, ringworm, and athlete's foot.[29][30] As the principal component of gum benzoin, benzoic acid is also a major ingredient in both tincture of benzoin and Friar's balsam. Such products have a long history of use as topical antiseptics and inhalant decongestants.

Benzoic acid was used as an expectorant, analgesic, and antiseptic in the early 20th century.[31]

Benzoyl chloride
Benzoic acid is a precursor to benzoyl chloride, C6H5C(O)Cl by treatment with thionyl chloride, phosgene or one of the chlorides of phosphorus. Benzoyl chloride is an important starting material for several benzoic acid derivates like benzyl benzoate, which is used in artificial flavours and insect repellents.

Niche and laboratory uses
In teaching laboratories, benzoic acid is a common standard for calibrating a bomb calorimeter.[32]

Biology and health effects
Benzoic acid occurs naturally as do its esters in many plant and animal species. Appreciable amounts are found in most berries (around 0.05%). Ripe fruits of several Vaccinium species (e.g., cranberry, V. vitis macrocarpon; bilberry, V. myrtillus) contain as much as 0.03–0.13% free benzoic acid. Benzoic acid is also formed in apples after infection with the fungus Nectria galligena. Among animals, benzoic acid has been identified primarily in omnivorous or phytophageous species, e.g., in viscera and muscles of the rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) as well as in gland secretions of male muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) or Asian bull elephants (Elephas maximus).[33] Gum benzoin contains up to 20% of benzoic acid and 40% benzoic acid esters.[34]

In terms of its biosynthesis, benzoate is produced in plants from cinnamic acid.[35] A pathway has been identified from phenol via 4-hydroxybenzoate.[36]

Reactions
Reactions of benzoic acid can occur at either the aromatic ring or at the carboxyl group:

Aromatic ring
benzoic acid aromatic ring reactions
Electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction will take place mainly in 3-position due to the electron-withdrawing carboxylic group; i.e. benzoic acid is meta directing.

The second substitution reaction (on the right) is slower because the first nitro group is deactivating.[37] Conversely, if an activating group (electron-donating) was introduced (e.g., alkyl), a second substitution reaction would occur more readily than the first and the disubstituted product might accumulate to a significant extent.

Carboxyl group
All the reactions mentioned for carboxylic acids are also possible for benzoic acid.

Benzoic acid esters are the product of the acid catalysed reaction with alcohols.
Benzoic acid amides are more easily available by using activated acid derivatives (such as benzoyl chloride) or by coupling reagents used in peptide synthesis like DCC and DMAP.
The more active benzoic anhydride is formed by dehydration using acetic anhydride or phosphorus pentoxide.
Highly reactive acid derivatives such as acid halides are easily obtained by mixing with halogenation agents like phosphorus chlorides or thionyl chloride.
Orthoesters can be obtained by the reaction of alcohols under acidic water free conditions with benzonitrile.
Reduction to benzaldehyde and benzyl alcohol is possible using DIBAL-H, LiAlH4 or sodium borohydride.
The copper catalysed decarboxylation of benzoate to benzene may be effected by heating in quinoline. Also, Hunsdiecker decarboxylation can be achieved by forming the silver salt and heating. Benzoic acid can also be decarboxylated by heating with an alkali hydroxide or calcium hydroxide.
benzoic acid group reactions
Safety and mammalian metabolism
It is excreted as hippuric acid.[38] Benzoic acid is metabolized by butyrate-CoA ligase into an intermediate product, benzoyl-CoA,[39] which is then metabolized by glycine N-acyltransferase into hippuric acid.[40] Humans metabolize toluene and benzoic acid which is excreted as hippuric acid.[41]

For humans, the World Health Organization's International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) suggests a provisional tolerable intake would be 5 mg/kg body weight per day.[33] Cats have a significantly lower tolerance against benzoic acid and its salts than rats and mice. Lethal dose for cats can be as low as 300 mg/kg body weight.[42] The oral LD50 for rats is 3040 mg/kg, for mice it is 1940–2263 mg/kg.[33]

In Taipei, Taiwan, a city health survey in 2010 found that 30% of dried and pickled food products had benzoic acid.[43]

Benzoic acid appears as a white crystalline solid. Slightly soluble in water. The primary hazard is the potential for environmental damage if released. Immediate steps should be taken to limit spread to the environment. Used to make other chemicals, as a food preservative, and for other uses.

Benzoic acid, C6H5COOH, is a colourless crystalline solid and the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid. Benzoic acid occurs naturally free and bound as benzoic acid esters in many plant and animal species. Appreciable amounts have been found in most berries (around 0. 05%). Cranberries contain as much as 300-1300 mg free benzoic acid per kg fruit. Benzoic acid is a fungistatic compound that is widely used as a food preservative. It often is conjugated to glycine in the liver and excreted as hippuric acid. Benzoic acid is a byproduct of phenylalanine metabolism in bacteria. It is also produced when gut bacteria process polyphenols (from ingested fruits or beverages).

Benzoic acid is a compound comprising a benzene ring core carrying a carboxylic acid substituent. It has a role as an antimicrobial food preservative, an EC 3.1.1.3 (triacylglycerol lipase) inhibitor, an EC 1.13.11.33 (arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase) inhibitor, a plant metabolite, a human xenobiotic metabolite, an algal metabolite and a drug allergen. It is a conjugate acid of a benzoate.

Benzoic Acid
Benzoic acid or benzene-carbonic-acid is a monobasic aromatic acid, moderately strong, white crystalline powder, very soluble in alcohol, ether, and benzene, but poorly soluble in water (0.3 g of benzoic acid in 100 g of water at 20 °C).

Benzoic acid has the advantage that it does not affect the odor or taste of the soft drink, if used in small quantities. The preserving quality of benzoic acid is based on its activity to delay the multiplication of several groups of microorganisms, which, however, are not killed by this product. The low solubility of benzoic acid in water complicates its application in products containing large amounts of water. Therefore, the water-soluble salt sodium benzoate is used.

This product, which is the salt of benzoic acid, has no preserving activity by itself. Therefore, after addition of sodium benzoate, the acidity of the soft drink is increased (pH < 3.5), with the result that free undissociated benzoic acid is formed, which has a preserving property. In an alkaline environment, benzoic acid is split into ions and thus loses its preserving activity.

Sodium benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid used as a white crystalline or amorphous (without crystal structure) powder, very soluble in water (66 g of sodium benzoate in 100 g of water at 20 °C) but poorly soluble in alcohol.
Description of of Benzoic Acid;

Benzoic acid, C6H5COOH, is a colourless crystalline solid and the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid. Benzoic acid occurs naturally free and bound as benzoic acid esters in many plant and animal species. Appreciable amounts have been found in most berries (around 0.05%). Cranberries contain as much as 300-1300 mg free benzoic acid per kg fruit. Benzoic acid is a fungistatic compound that is widely used as a food preservative. It often is conjugated to glycine in the liver and excreted as hippuric acid. Benzoic acid is a byproduct of phenylalanine metabolism in bacteria. It is also produced when gut bacteria process polyphenols (from ingested fruits or beverages).

Formula of Benzoic Acid : C7H6O2

Physical and Chemical Properties of Benzoic Acid;

Boiling point of Benzoic Acid;    249 °C (1013 hPa)

Density of Benzoic Acid;    1.321 g/cm3 (20 °C)

Flash point of Benzoic Acid;    121 °C

Ignition temperature of Benzoic Acid;    570 °C

Melting Point of Benzoic Acid;    121 - 123 °C

pH value of Benzoic Acid;    2.5 - 3.5 (H²O, 20 °C) (saturated solution)

Vapor pressure of Benzoic Acid;    0.001 hPa (20 °C)

Bulk density of Benzoic Acid;    500 kg/m3

Solubility of Benzoic Acid;    2.9 g/l

Physical Description of Benzoic Acid;

DryPowder
Liquid
Liquid, PelletsLargeCrystals
OtherSolid
PelletsLargeCrystals

Color of Benzoic Acid;

White scales or needle crystals

Odor of Benzoic Acid;

Odorless or with a slight benzaldehyde odor

Application of Benzoic Acid;

Benzoic acid, a white, crystalline organic compound belonging to the family of carboxylic acids, widely used as a food preservative and in the manufacture of various cosmetics, dyes, plastics, and insect repellents.

First described in the 16th century, benzoic acid exists in many plants; it makes up about 20 percent of gum benzoin, a vegetable resin. It was first prepared synthetically about 1860 from compounds derived from coal tar. It is commercially manufactured by the chemical reaction of toluene (a hydrocarbon obtained from petroleum) with oxygen at temperatures around 200° C (about 400° F) in the presence of cobalt and manganese salts as catalysts. Pure benzoic acid melts at 122° C (252° F) and is very slightly soluble in water.

Among the derivatives of benzoic acid are sodium benzoate, a salt used as a food preservative; benzyl benzoate, an ester used as a miticide; and benzoyl peroxide, used in bleaching flour and in initiating chemical reactions for preparing certain plastics.

Benzoic acid has been used in the preparation of vials for the HPLC analysis of various polyamines in biological fluids, tissues and isolated/cultured cells.
It may be employed as an intermediate in the synthesis of the following
• paints 
• pigments
• varnish
• wetting agents
• aroma compounds
• benzoyl chloride 
• benzotrichloride
It may also be used to investigate the mechanism of complex addition reaction of hydroxyl radicals with various aromatic compounds.

More than 90 percent of commercial benzoic acid is converted directly to phenol and caprolactam. Its use in the production of glycol benzoates for the application of plasticizer in adhesive formulations is increasing. The organic compound is also used in the manufacture of alkyd resins and drilling mud additive for crude oil recovery applications. It is also used as a rubber polymerization activator and retardant.

Benzoic acid is converted to its salts and esters for use as a preservative application in foods, drugs, and personal products. 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 tinea, ringworm, and athlete's foot.

Industry Uses of Benzoic Acid;

Adhesives and sealant chemicals
Agricultural chemicals (non-pesticidal)
Intermediates
Lubricants and lubricant additives
Paint additives and coating additives not described by other categories
Plasticizers

Consumer Uses of Benzoic Acid;

Adhesives and Sealants
Agricultural Products (non-pesticidal)
Anti-Freeze and De-icing Products
Building/Construction Materials not covered elsewhere
Electrical and Electronic Products
Floor Coverings
Lubricants and Greases
Paints and Coatings
Personal Care Products
Plastic and Rubber Products not covered elsewhere