Reciprocal Net Site sponsor
   Site Info    |    Search
Benzoic acid - Reciprocal Net Common Molecule Log in
You will need to download and install a Java plug-in in order to view this applet. Download Sun's Java plug-in from here.
TIP > Click and drag your mouse inside the applet above to rotate the molecule in 3-D. Applet instructions...

Switch to another visualization applet:

> miniJaMM open in new window...
- JaMM1
- JaMM2

Benzoic acid

Benzoic acid occurs as white needle shaped crystals found naturally in gum benzoin.

Chemical Formula: C7H6O2
Layman's explanation: Benzoic acid is a medium-strong acid found in human foods such as berries, and is used as a plasticizer, insecticide, fungicide, 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 anhydride. It is purified by the process of sublimation, and the extremely pure form is used as a titrimetric and calorimetric standard in analytical chemistry.
Keywords: plasticizer, benzoin, fungicide, insecticide, acid

Reciprocal Net site software 0.9.1-50, copyright (c) 2002-2009, The Trustees of Indiana University
Files and data presented via this software are property of their respective owners.
Reciprocal Net is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation as part of the National Science Digital Library project. NSDL