Benzoic Acid (benzenecarboxilic acid)
C6H5COOH

Carboxylic Acid based on a six-carbon aromatic resonance structure. Colourless liquid with a sharp, unpleasant odour. Low solubility (0.4g/100g H2O at 25 degrees C, althout this rises to 6.8g at 95 degrees. Relatively high melting and boiling points.
Benzoic acid is one of the weaker carboxylic acids, with a pKa value of 4.18.

It can be prepared by oxidising the side chain on an aromatic ring, for example by adding potassium permanganate to tolulene, C6H5CH3.

A white, crystalline, aromatic acid (C7H6O2) that is used as an antibacterial and antifungal agent and as a food preservative. It is a chemical precursor to the artificial sweetener saccharin.


From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.

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