Hyoscyamine/hexamethylenetetramine/phenyl salicylate/methylene blue/benzoic acid

Benzoic acid /bɛnˈzoʊ.ɪk/ is a white or colorless solid organic compound with the formula C6H5COOH. Its structure consists of a benzene ring (C6H6) with a carboxyl (−C(=O)OH) substituent. The benzoyl group is often abbreviated "Bz" (not to be confused with "Bn" which is used for benzyl), thus benzoic acid is also denoted as BzOH, since the benzoyl group has the formula –C6H5CO. It is the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid. The name is derived from gum benzoin, which was for a long time its only source.

Occurrence and Uses

Benzoic acid occurs 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. Benzoic acid is an important precursor for the industrial synthesis of many other organic substances.

Related Terms

The salts and esters of benzoic acid are known as benzoates /ˈbɛnzoʊ.eɪt/.

Etymology

The name "benzoic acid" is derived from the gum benzoin, which was for a long time the only known source of the compound. The term "benzoin" is probably derived from Arabic lubān jāwī (لبان جاوي, "Javan frankincense"); the term "benzoin" is probably a corruption of the Arabic expression.