sodium benzoate

sodium benzoate

sodium benzoate or benzoate of soda, chemical compound, C₆H₅CO₂Na, colorless or white crystalline, aromatic compound; the sodium salt of benzoic acid. It is soluble in water and is used as a preservative in foods and beverages; because it is poisonous, the concentration is limited by law to 0.1%.

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sodium benzoate

[′sōd·ē·əm ′ben·zə‚wāt]

(organic chemistry)

NaC₇H₅O₂ Water- and alcohol-soluble, white, amorphous crystals with a sweetish taste; used as a food preservative and an antiseptic and in tobacco, pharmaceuticals, and medicine.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.