Benzoic acid , C
7H
6O
2 (or C
6H
5COOH), is a colorless crystalline solid and a simple
aromatic carboxylic acid. The name is derived from
gum benzoin, which was for a long time its only known source. Benzoic acid occurs naturally in many plants and it serves as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of many
secondary metabolites.
Salts of benzoic acid are used as food preservatives and benzoic acid is an important precursor for the industrial synthesis of many other organic substances. The salts and
esters of benzoic acid are known as
benzoates .