What is Formed When Sodium Benzoate Dissolved in Water

Sodium benzoate dissolved in water is a common form of benzoic acid. Benzoic acid is an organic compound with the molecular formula C6H5CO2H. It has a carboxyl group which can react with other chemical compounds and lead to the formation of esters, amides, or chemical salts.

Uses of benzoic acid

1.Antiseptic agent

Benzoic acid sodium is also used in medical applications. It is applied to help prevent the growth of certain bacteria that can cause acne and other kinds of infections. An example is Neutrogena's On-the- Spot Acne Treatment, which contains 2% benzoic acid sodium solution. The product is available for both over-the-counter sale and by prescription.

2.Food preservative

Benzoic acid sodium is also used as food preservative in diverse areas such as beers, wines and dairy products, as well as other products such as shampoos and liquid soaps.

3.Chemical reagent

sodium benzoate dissolved in water is often used as a chemical reagent, especially in organic chemistry. It can be used in some reactions as a substitute for sodium acetate and is often called sodium benzoate, but that name also applies to the ionic compound formed from benzoic acid and its conjugate base, acetate. It can be used instead of other benzoates such as citric acid or valeric acid.

4.Wastewater treatment

Benzoic acid sodium is also used in wastewater treatment. In the neutralization process, sodium benzoate, mixed with activated carbon, is used to remove lead ions. The resulting sludge is then taken for further processing or disposal.

5.Detergent and laundry products

Sodium benzoate is widely found in household detergents and washing powders, cosmetics and perfumes as a preservative agent. It can preserve the quality of the final product by preventing spoilage or deterioration in case of contact with air or water. Sodium nitrite has been suggested as an alternative to sodium benzoate due to a lower cost, although this claim has not been elucidated.

6.Apple juice preservative practice

Benzoic acid sodium is used to prevent browning and maintain the quality of apple juice. It inhibits the enzymatic browning reaction and keeps the juice fresh for up to two weeks in grocery stores and other distribution channels.

Effects of sodium benzoate on the human body

1.Benzoate degradation

In the gastrointestinal tract, sodium benzoate is metabolized by colonic bacteria to hippurate. Hippurate is then excreted in the urine.

2.Toxicity and effects of sodium benzoate on human body

sodium benzoate dissolved in water is an ingredient commonly used in food preservatives. It is approved for use as a food preservative by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at concentrations up to 0.1% by weight (45 grams per kilogram or 3 teaspoons per gallon). Sodium benzoate as a general preservative may adversely affect people with ethyl gallate or benzoic acid manufacture deficiency, or transglutaminase 6 deficiency.

3.Carcinogenicity

In 2012, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released a draft report which said that sodium benzoate could be linked to cell damage in the liver. The FDA is yet to adopt this opinion. If this happens, then sodium benzoate's use in food will be reviewed and it may have to bear warning labels in the future. At present, potassium citrate or citric acid are generally used as food preservatives instead of sodium benzoate.

4.Oral toxicity and safety factors

Females who are pregnant or breastfeeding are advised not to take benzoic acid sodium because it may be present in the maternal blood plasma and transferred to the fetus/newborn baby through breast milk. People with kidney failure may have too much sodium benzoate in their body fluids, which can lead to cerebral edema and even death; they therefore should avoid eating foods with high content of benzoates, especially if they have an abnormal kidney function. Those with phenylketonuria (PKU) are advised to avoid foods with high benzoate content.

5.Teratogenicity

Data from clinical studies have shown that high doses of sodium benzoate can cause adverse reproductive effects and abnormalities in the newborn. For example, an animal study citation needed] has reported abnormalities in procaryotic cells in the gestating rat fetus exposed to sodium benzoate. However, the same study cannot prove whether the abnormalities were caused by sodium benzoate itself, or by other substances present in the rats' diet.

6.Growth inhibition and carcinogenesis

Benzoic acid sodium has been claimed to be a carcinogen by some activists and scientists. In a January 2013 survey of 1000 toxicologists, scientists and physicians worldwide, only 1% thought that sodium benzoate is a carcinogen. In 2010, an international panel of toxicologists convened by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) concluded that "benzoate salts are not likely to pose risks for human health under normal conditions of use.