Difference between revisions of "Sodium benzoate"

Revision as of 14:07, 3 August 2015

Sodium benzoate.

Sodium benzoate is an organic chemical compound, used as a food preservative.

Properties

Chemical

Sodium benzoate will react with sodium hydroxide to produce benzene:

C₆H₅OONa + NaOH → C₆H₆ + Na₂CO₃

Ascorbic acid will also reduce the salt to benzene.

Physical

Sodium benzoate is a white hygroscopic compound, with a characteristic smell. It has a solubility in water of 62.7 g/100 mL at standard conditions. Sodium benzoate is also soluble in liquid ammonia and pyridine. It is poorly soluble in methanol and ethanol.

Availability

Sodium benzoate is available as a food preservative, sold in sealed bags.

Preparation

Sodium benzoate can be prepared by reacting benzoic acid and sodium hydroxide, bicarbonate or carbonate.

Projects

• Benzene synthesis
• Whistle mix

Handling

Safety

Sodium benzoate has low toxicity to humans, and recent studies have shown to have some beneficial effects, in preventing Alzheimer and Parkinson's, though the results aren't conclusive so far. Cats however, have a significantly lower tolerance against benzoic acid and its salts, than rats and mice.

Storage

Should be stored in closed bottles, as it's slightly hygroscopic.

Disposal

Sodium benzoate has low toxicity and doesn't require special disposal.

References

Relevant Sciencemadness threads

• Reactions with sodium benzoate
• Calcium Benzoate from Sodium Benzoate
• Sodium benzoate to benzoic acid