Sodium Benzoate

Description

Sodium benzoate is a white, crystalline or granular, water-soluble powder. It’s a preservative, commonly used in food and cosmetics, and is also used in some medications. It has a sweet and saline taste and is odorless. Chemically, it’s the sodium salt of benzoic acid.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Appearance: Sodium benzoate appears as white granules or crystalline powder.
Odor: It is odorless.
Solubility: It is freely soluble in water and slightly soluble in ethanol.
Taste: It has a sweet and saline taste.
Chemical Formula: The chemical formula is C7H5NaO2 or C6H5COONa.
Function: It acts as a preservative, preventing the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast, thus extending the shelf life of products.
Uses: Sodium benzoate is widely used in food and beverages, cosmetics and personal care products, and some medications.
Other Names: It’s also known as benzoate of soda and is sometimes referred to as E211 on food labels.