benzoic acid

benzoic acid
Chem., Pharm.
a white, crystalline, slightly water-soluble powder, C7H6O2, usually derived from benzoin or other balsams, or synthesized from phthalic acid or toluene: used chiefly as a preservative, in the synthesis of dyes, and in medicine as a germicide. Also called benzenecarboxylic acid, phenylformic acid.
[1785-95]

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      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.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Benzoic acid — Benzoic acid …   Wikipedia

  • Benzoic acid — Benzoic Ben*zo ic (b[e^]n*z[=o] [i^]k), a. [Cf. F. benzo[ i]que.] Pertaining to, or obtained from, benzoin. [1913 Webster] {Benzoic acid}, or {flowers of benzoin}, a peculiar vegetable acid, {C6H5.CO2H}, obtained from benzoin, and some other… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • benzoic acid — n. a white, crystalline organic acid, C6H5COOH, produced commercially from toluene and used as an antiseptic and preservative and in the making of perfumes, flavorings, etc …   English World dictionary

  • benzoic acid — benzenkarboksirūgštis statusas T sritis chemija formulė C₆H₅COOH atitikmenys: angl. benzoic acid rus. бензойная кислота …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • benzoic acid — Occurs naturally in gum benzoin; it is used as a food preservative, locally as a fungistatic, and orally as an antiseptic. It is excreted rapidly as hippuric acid. SYN: benzoyl hydrate, flowers of benzoin. * * * ben·zo·ic acid ben .zō ik …   Medical dictionary

  • benzoic acid — noun A white crystalline organic acid, CHCOOH; the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid; used as a food preservative and in many other industrial applications. Syn: E210, preservative …   Wiktionary

  • benzoic acid — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary, from benzoin Date: 1791 a white crystalline acid C6H5COOH found naturally (as in benzoin or in cranberries) or made synthetically and used especially as a preservative of foods, in medicine,… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • benzoic acid — an antiseptic, active against fungi and bacteria, used as a preservative in foods and pharmaceutical preparations and, combined with salicylic acid, in the form of an ointment for the treatment of ringworm …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • benzoic acid — /bɛnˌzoʊɪk ˈæsəd/ (say ben.zohik asuhd) noun a white, crystalline acid, C6H5COOH, obtained from benzoin and other balsams or from toluene, used in medicine, aniline dye manufacture, as a food preservative, etc. {benz(ene) + oic + acid1} …  

  • benzoic acid — noun a white crystalline solid occurring in many resins • Hypernyms: ↑carboxylic acid …   Useful english dictionary

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