Benzoic acid is a medium-strong acid found in human foods such as berries, and is used as a plasticizer, an antifungal agent and in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals. It is more hydrophobic, water fearing, in comparison with other carboxylic acids and therefore can be extracted easily from all types of solvents. This acid is slightly soluble in water and has a melting point of 122 degrees Celsius. Benzoic acid is industrially manufactured from toluene, benzotrichloride and phthalic anyhydride. It is purified by the process of sublimation, and the extremely pure form is used as a titrimetric and calorimetric standard in analytical chemistry.
Citation of a publication:
Windholz et al, The Merck Index, Merck &
Co.,Inc, 10th edition, p155-156.
Sax et al, Hawley's Condensed Chemical
Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company,
11th edition, p132.
Stedman's Medical Dictionary, The Williams
and Wilkins Company, 21st edition, p 196-
197.
Lab name:
Common molecules
Sample provider:
Obtained courtesy of the Cambridge Structural Database
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