What is Benzoic Acid?
Benzoic acid is an organic compound with Chemical formula C6H5COOH or C7H6O2. It is a white or colorless crystal that belongs to the family of carboxylic acids. It is used in various industries and is widely used as a preservative. It has a pleasant fruity smell. Sodium Benzoate, a salt used in food preservation is also a derivative of Benzoic acid.
History of Benzoic Acid
Benzoic acid was first discovered in the 16th century. It was first extracted naturally from benzoin resin and hence the name is benzoic acid. Benzoin resin was earlier used in traditional medicines. A German chemist Adolf von Baeyer was the first to synthesize benzoic acid in 1875. It was extracted from a compound named toluene which was derived from coal tar. Nowadays, benzoic acid is mainly synthesized in laboratories.
Benzoic Acid
Benzoic Acid is a white, solid organic compound that belongs to the family of carboxylic acid. The chemical formula of Benzoic Acid is C6H5COOH. It is used in the manufacturing of certain products including perfumes, toothpaste, face wash, chemicals, dyes, insect repellent, and the list is endless. It is majorly used as a preservative for certain food items like pickles, jam, etc.
In this article, we will discuss more about Benzoic Acid, its structure, properties, and its uses.
Table of Content
- What is Benzoic Acid?
- Benzoic Acid Structure
- Benzoic Acid Formula
- Preparation of Benzoic Acid
- Properties of Benzoic Acid
- Uses of Benzoic Acid
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