Benzoic acid

Uncommon card · No. 92669

Benzoic acid () is a white or colorless crystalline organic compound with the formula C6H5COOH, whose 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. 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. The salts and esters of benzoic acid are known as benzoates ().

Read on Wikipedia · Image Devon Fyson, CC BY-SA 4.0