Sodium benzoate

Sodium benzoate (E211), also called benzoate of soda, has chemical formulaC{{{else{{{test|}}}|{{{test{{{test|}}}|{{{then|}}}}}}}}}}|then=_{{{1}}}}}₆H{{{else{{{test|}}}|{{{test{{{test|}}}|{{{then|}}}}}}}}}}|then=_{{{1}}}}}₅C{{{else{{{test|}}}|{{{test{{{test|}}}|{{{then|}}}}}}}}}}|then=_{{{1}}}}}O{{{else{{{test|}}}|{{{test{{{test|}}}|{{{then|}}}}}}}}}}|then=_{{{1}}}|}}O{{{else{{{test|}}}|{{{test{{{test|}}}|{{{then|}}}}}}}}}}|then=_{{{1}}}|}}Na{{{else{{{test|}}}|{{{test{{{test|}}}|{{{then|}}}}}}}}}}|then=_{{{1}}}}}. It is the sodium salt of benzoic acidand exists in this form when dissolved in water. It can be produced by reacting sodium hydroxidewith benzoic acid.

As a food additiveit is used as a preservative, effectively killing most yeasts, bacteria and fungi. Sodium benzoate is effective only in acidic conditions (pH < 3.6) making its use most prevalent in foods such as preserves, salad dressings, carbonated drinks, jams, and fruit juices.

It is found naturally in cranberries, prunes, greengage plums, cinnamon, ripe cloves, and apples. Concentration as a preservative is limited by the FDA in the U.S. to 0.1% by weight (because it is poisonous in larger quantities) though organically grown cranberries and prunes can conceivably contain levels exceeding this limit.

It is also found in alcohol-based mouthwash.

External links

• Sodium Benzoate Material Safety Data Sheet

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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium+benzoate Wikipedia article Sodium benzoate.