Page 156 - Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds 3 Vols

H

H C H

C C

C C
H C H

C
HO O

OTHER NAMES:
Carboxybenzene,
benzenecarboxylic
acid, phenylformic
acid
FORMULA:
Benzoic Acid
C 6 H 5 COOH
ELEMENTS:
Carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen
OVERVIEW
COMPOUND TYPE: KE
Organic acid Benzoic acid (ben-ZO-ik AS-id) is the simplest of the
STATE: Y aromatic carboxylic acids, a family of organic compounds
Solid F containing the carboxyl (-COOH) group. It occurs in the form
of white crystalline needles or thin plates. Many naturally
MOLECULAR WEIGHT: A
occurring plants contain benzoic acid, including most types
122.12 g/mol C
of berries and the natural product called gum benzoin, a
MELTING POINT: T plant common to the islands of Java, Sumatra, and Borneo.

122.35 C (252.23 F) S Gum benzoin may contain up to 20 percent benzoic acid.
BOILING POINT: Benzoic acid is also excreted by most animals (except fowl)

249.2 C (480.6 F) in the form of a related compound called hippuric acid
(C 6 H 5 CONHCH 2 COOH).
SOLUBILITY:
Slightly soluble in
water; soluble in HOW IT IS MADE
alcohol, ether, and
acetone Some benzoic acid is prepared from gum benzoin and
other natural compounds containing high concentrations of
the compound. Three methods are available for making ben-
zoic acid commercially. In one method, toluene (C 6 H 5 CH 3 )is

CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS 105