Benzoic acid is a white crystalline (sand-like) powder with a light, pleasant odor. It is used to make other chemicals, perfumes and flavorings, and as a food preservative and antifungal agent.

Benzoic acid /bɛnˈzoʊ.ɪk/ is a white (or colorless) solid organic compound with the molecular formula C6H5COOH, and its structure consists of a benzene ring (C6H6) and a carboxyl (-C(=O)OH) substituent. The benzoyl group is often abbreviated as "Bz" (not to be confused with "Bn" for benzyl), so benzoic acid is also denoted as BzOH, since the molecular formula for benzoyl is –C6H5CO. It is the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid. The name is derived from benzoin gum, which was the only source for a long time.

Benzoic acid occurs naturally in many plants [9] and acts as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of many secondary metabolites. Benzoates are used as food preservatives. Benzoic acid is an important precursor for the industrial synthesis of many other organic substances. Salts and esters of benzoic acid are known as benzoates

Benzoic acid was discovered in the sixteenth century. Dry distillation of benzoin gum was first described by Nostradamus (1556), then by Alexius Pedemontanus (1560) and Blaise de Vigenère (1596). [10]

Justus von Liebig and Friedrich Wöhler determined the composition of benzoic acid. [11] The latter also studied the relationship between hippuric acid and benzoic acid.

In 1875, Salkowski discovered the antifungal properties of benzoic acid, which has long been used to preserve cloudberry fruit that contains benzoates.

Benzoic acid is produced commercially by the partial oxidation of toluene with oxygen. The process is catalyzed by cobalt or manganese naphthenate. The process is rich in materials and high in yield.