Sodium Benzoate

Sodium Benzoate

What is it?

It is the sodium salt of benzoic acid that is widely used as a food preservative and a pickling agent. Sodium Benzoate has an E number of E211. It appears as a white crystalline chemical with the formula C₆H₅COONa.

It is most widely used in acidic foods such as the acetic acid in vinegar in salad dressings. Also in pickles that has acetic acid in it. It is also used in carbonated drinks that has carbonic acid in it.  Jams and fruit juices that has citric acid in them make use of it. Condiments and frozen yogurt toppings. Concentration as a food preservative is limited by the FDA In the U.S. to 0.1% by weight. It is also allowed as an animal food additive at up to 0.1%, per the Association of American Feed Control Officials.

Due to Its ability to bind amino acids is why pharmaceuticals use Sodium benzoate as a treatment for urea cycle disorders. This leads to excretion of these amino acids and a decrease in ammonia levels.

Fireworks that uses Sodium benzoate as a fuel in whistle powder mix that emits a whistling noise when compressed into a tube and ignited