Potassium benzoate
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Potassium benzoate (E212), the potassium salt of benzoic acid, is a food preservative that inhibits the growth of mold, yeast and some bacteria. It works best in low-pH products, below 4.5, where it exists as benzoic acid.
Quick Facts Names, Identifiers ...
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Names | |||
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IUPAC name
Potassium benzoate | |||
Identifiers | |||
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3D model (JSmol) |
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ChEMBL | |||
ChemSpider |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.008.621 | ||
EC Number |
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E number | E212 (preservatives) | ||
KEGG | |||
PubChem CID |
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UNII | |||
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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Properties | |||
C7H5KO2 | |||
Molar mass | 160.213 g·mol−1 | ||
Appearance | White hygroscopic solid | ||
Odor | Odorless[1] | ||
Density | 1.5 g/cm3 | ||
Melting point | >300 °C (572 °F; 573 K) | ||
69.87 g/100 mL (17.5 °C) 73.83 g/100 mL (25 °C) 79 g/100 mL (33.3 °C) 88.33 g/100 mL (50 °C)[2][1] | |||
Solubility in other solvents | Soluble in ethanol Slightly soluble in methanol Insoluble in ether | ||
Hazards[3] | |||
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |||
Main hazards |
Low toxicity | ||
GHS labelling: | |||
Warning | |||
H315, H319 | |||
P264, P280, P302+P352, P305+P351+P338, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362 | |||
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |||
950 °C (1,740 °F; 1,220 K) | |||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Acidic foods and beverages such as fruit juice (citric acid), sparkling drinks (carbonic acid), soft drinks (phosphoric acid), and pickles (vinegar) may be preserved with potassium benzoate. It is approved for use in most countries including Canada, the United States and the European Union, where it is designated by the E number E212.
Potassium benzoate is also used in the whistle in many fireworks.[4]