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Benzoic acid

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Benzoic acid

Image:Benzoic-acid.svg Image:Benzoic-acid-3D-vdW.png

General
Systematic name Benzoic acid,
benzene carboxylic acid
Other names Carboxybenzene,
E210, dracylic acid
Molecular formula C7H6O2
SMILES c1ccccc1C(=O)O
Molar mass 122.12 g/mol
Appearance Colourless crystalline solid
CAS number [65-85-0]
Properties
Density and phase 1.32 g/cm3, solid
Solubility in water Soluble (hot water)
3.4 g/l (25 °C)
In methanol,
diethyl ether
Soluble
Melting point 122.4  °C (395 K)
Boiling point 249  °C (522 K)
Acidity (pKa) 4.21
Structure
Molecular shape planar
Crystal structure Monoclinic
Dipole moment 1.72 D in Dioxane
Hazards
MSDS External MSDS,
External MSDS
Main hazards Irritating
NFPA 704
Flash point 121 °C (394 K)
R/S statement R: R22, R36
S: S24
RTECS number DG0875000
Supplementary data page
Structure and
properties
n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic
data
Phase behaviour
Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data UV, IR, NMR, MS
Related compounds
Related carboxylic
acids
phenylacetic acid,
hippuric acid,
salicylic acid
Related compounds benzene,
benzaldehyde,
benzyl alcohol,
benzyl benzoate,
benzoyl chloride
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

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. This weak acid and its salts are used as a food preservative. Benzoic acid is an important precursor for the synthesis of many other organic substances.

Contents

[edit] History

Benzoic acid was discovered in the 16th century. The dry distillation of gum benzoin was first described by Nostradamus (1556), and subsequently by Alexius Pedemontanus (1560) and Blaise de Vigenère (1596).<ref>Neumüller O-A (1988). Römpps Chemie-Lexikon, 6, Stuttgart: Frankh'sche Verlagshandlung. ISBN 3-440-04516-1.</ref>

Justus von Liebig and Friedrich Wöhler determined the structure of benzoic acid in 1832.<ref>Liebig J, Wöhler F (1832). "". Liebigs An Chem 3: 249.</ref> They also investigated how hippuric acid is related to benzoic acid.

In 1875 Salkowski discovered the antifungal abilities of benzoic acid, which were used for a long time in the preservation of benzoate containing fruits.<ref>Salkowski E (1875). "". Berl Klin Wochenschr 12: 297-298.</ref>

[edit] Production

[edit] Industrial preparations

Benzoic acid is produced commercially by partial oxidation of toluene with oxygen. The process is catalyzed by cobalt or manganese naphthenates. The process uses cheap raw materials, proceeds in high yield, and is considered environmentally attractive.

Image:Benzoic acid-chemical-synthesis-1.png

U.S. production capacity is estimated to be 126000 tonnes per year, much of which is consumed domestically to prepare other industrial chemicals.

[edit] Historical preparations

The first industrial process involved the reaction of benzotrichloride (trichloromethyl benzene) with calcium hydroxide in water, using iron or iron salts as catalyst. The resulting calcium benzoate is converted to benzoic acid with hydrochloric acid. The product contains significant amounts of chlorinated benzoic acid derivatives. For this reason, benzoic acid for human consumption was obtained by dry distillation of gum benzoin. Even after the discovery of other synthesis methods, it was forbidden to use benzoic acid of other source than gum benzoin.[citation needed]

Alkyl substituted benzene derivatives give benzoic acid with the stoichiometric oxidants potassium permanganate, chromium trioxide, nitric acid.

[edit] Uses

[edit] Food preservative

Benzoic acid and its salts are used as a food preservative, represented by the E-numbers E210, E211, E212, and E213. Benzoic acid inhibits the growth of mold, yeast<ref>A D Warth (1991). "Mechanism of action of benzoic acid on Zygosaccharomyces bailii: effects on glycolytic metabolite levels, energy production, and intracellular pH.". Appl Environ Microbiol. 1991 December 1: 1.</ref> and some bacteria. It is either added directly or it is created from reactions with its sodium, potassium or calcium salt. The mechanism starts with the absorption of benzoic acid in to the cell. If the intracellular pH changes to 5 or lower the anaerobic fermentation of glucose through phosphofructokinase is decreased by 95%. The effectivity of benzoic acid and benzoate is thus dependent on the pH of the food.<ref>Pastrorova I, de Koster CG, Boom JJ (1997). "Analytic Study of Free and Ester Bound Benzoic and Cinnamic Acids of Gum Benzoin Resins by GC-MS HPLC-frit FAB-MS". Phytochem Anal 8: 63-73. DOI:<63::AID-PCA337>3.0.CO;2-Y 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1565(199703)8:2<63::AID-PCA337>3.0.CO;2-Y.</ref> Acidic food and beverage like fruit juice (citric acid), sparkling drinks (carbon dioxide), soft drinks (phosphoric acid), pickles (vinegar) or other acidified food are preserved with benzoic acid and benzoates.

Concern has been expressed that benzoic acid and its salts may react with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in some soft drinks, forming small quantities of benzene.<ref>Goldstein, David. "FDA finds benzene in soft drinks", Knight Ridder, 2006-03-03.</ref><ref>http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/245/indications_of_the_possible_formation_of_benzene_from_benzoic_acid_in_foods.pdf BfR article</ref>

See also Benzene in soft drinks.

[edit] Synthesis

Benzoic acid is used to make a large number of chemicals, important examples:

[edit] Biology and health effects

Gum benzoin contains up to 20% of benzoic acid and 40% benzoic acid esters.<ref>Tomokuni K, Ogata M (1972). "Direct Colorimetric Determination of Hippuric Acid in Urine". Clin Chem 18: 349-351.</ref>

Benzoic acid is present as part of hippuric acid (N-Benzoylglycine) in urine of mammals, especially herbivores (Gr. hippos = horse; ouron = urine). Humans produce about 0.44 g/L hippuric acid per day in their urine, and if the person is exposed to toluene or benzoic acid it can rise above that level.<ref>Krebs HA, Wiggins D, Stubbs M (1983). "Studies on the mechanism of the antifungal action of benzoate". Biochem J 214: 657-663.</ref>

For humans the IPCS suggests a provisional tolerable intake would be 5 mg/kg body weight per day.<ref name="innovation">Chemical Profiles (updated 2002-04-03)</ref><ref name="concise">Concise International Chemical Assessment Document 26: BENZOIC ACID AND SODIUM BENZOATE</ref> Cats have a significantly lower tolerance against benzoic acid and its salts than rats and mice. Lethal dose for cats can be as low as 300 mg/kg body weight, whereas mice die of an intake of 6000 mg/kg body weight.<ref>Bedford PG, Clarke EG (1972). "Experimental benzoic acid poisoning in the cat". Vet Rec 90: 53-58. PMID 4672555</ref> The LD50 for rats is 1700 mg/kg, and for humans 500 mg/kg.<ref name="innovation"/><ref name="concise"/>

[edit] Chemistry

Reactions of benzoic acid can occur at either the aromatic ring or the carboxylic group:

[edit] Aromatic ring

Image:Benzoic acid-chemical-reaction-1.png

Electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction will take place mainly in 3-position to the electron-withdrawing carboxylic group.

The second substitution reaction (on the right) is slower because the first nitro group is deactivating.<ref>Brewster, R. Q.; Williams, B.; Phillips, R. (1955). "3,5-Dinitrobenzoic Acid". Organic Syntheses, Collected Volume 3: 337.</ref> Conversely, if an activating group (electron-donating) was introduced (eg alkyl), a second substitution reaction would occur more readily than the first and the disubstituted product might not accumulate to a significant extent.

[edit] Carboxylic group

All the reactions mentioned for carboxylic acids are also possible for benzoic acid.

Image:Benzoic acid-chemical-reaction-2.png

[edit] Laboratory preparations

Benzoic acid is cheap and readily available, so the laboratory synthesis of benzoic acid is mainly practiced for its pedogical value. It is a common undergraduate preparation and an unusual feature of the compound is that its melting point equals its molecular weight (122). For all syntheses, benzoic acid can be purified by recrystallization from water owing to its high solubility in hot and poor solubility in cold water. The avoidance of organic solvents for the recrystallization makes this experiment particularly safe.

[edit] From benzonitrile

Under alkaline or acidic conditions, benzonitrile undergoes hydrolysis. The reaction proceeds via the intermediacy of the amide or imine, which is subsequently hydrolysed to the acid or salt.

[edit] From benzamide

Benzamide, C6H5CONH2, may be hydrolysed by aqueous acid (or alkali), producing benzoic acid (or its salt in alkali):

C6H5CONH2 → C6H5CO2H + NH3

[edit] From benzaldehyde

The base-induced disproportionation of benzaldehyde, the Cannizzaro reaction, affords equal amounts of benzoate and benzyl alcohol; the latter can be removed by distillation.

[edit] From bromobenzene

Bromobenzene in diethyl ether is treated with magnesium turnings to produce phenylmagnesium bromide (C6H5MgBr). This Grignard reagent is treated with dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) to give the conjugate base of benzoic acid. Dilute acid is added to form benzoic acid.

Image:Benzoic acid synthesis.gif

[edit] From benzyl alcohol

Benzyl alcohol is refluxed with potassium permanganate or other oxidizing reagents in water. The mixture hot filtered to remove manganese oxide and then allowed to cool to afford benzoic acid.

[edit] References

<references/>

[edit] Further reading

  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Bindu Nair (2001). "Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, and Sodium Benzoate". Int J Tox 20 (Suppl. 3): 23-50.

[edit] External links


de:Benzoesäure es:Ácido benzoico fr:Acide benzoïque ko:벤조산 it:Acido benzoico lv:Benzoskābe nl:Benzoëzuur ja:安息香酸 pl:Kwas benzoesowy pt:Ácido benzóico ru:Бензойная кислота sk:Kyselina benzoová fi:Bentsoehappo sv:Bensoesyra zh:苯甲酸

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