Benzoic acid
Overview
Benzoic acid C7H6O2 (or C6H5COOH), is a colorless crystalline solid and the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid
. The name derived from gum benzoin, which was for a long time the only source for benzoic acid. Its salts are used as a food preservative and benzoic acid is an important precursor for the synthesis of many other organic substances. The salts and ester
s of benzoic acid are known as benzoates (pron).
Benzoic acid was discovered in the sixteenth century.
Carboxylic acid
Carboxylic acids are organic acids characterized by the presence of at least one carboxyl group. The general formula of a carboxylic acid is R-COOH, where R is some monovalent functional group...
. The name derived from gum benzoin, which was for a long time the only source for benzoic acid. Its salts are used as a food preservative and benzoic acid is an important precursor for the synthesis of many other organic substances. The salts and ester
Ester
Esters are chemical compounds derived by reacting an oxoacid with a hydroxyl compound such as an alcohol or phenol. Esters are usually derived from an inorganic acid or organic acid in which at least one -OH group is replaced by an -O-alkyl group, and most commonly from carboxylic acids and...
s of benzoic acid are known as benzoates (pron).
Benzoic acid was discovered in the sixteenth century.
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