4-Hydroxybenzoic acid
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| 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid | |
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| Chemical name | 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid |
| Other names | p-Hydroxybenzoic acid para-Hydroxybenzoic acid |
| Chemical formula | C7H6O3 |
| Molecular mass | 138.12 g/mol |
| CAS number | [99-96-7] |
| Density | 1.46 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 214-217 °C |
| SMILES | OC1=CC=C(C(O)=O)C=C1 |
| Disclaimer and references | |
4-Hydroxybenzoic acid, or p-hydroxybenzoic acid, is a phenolic derivative of benzoic acid. It a white crystalline solid that is slightly soluble in water and chloroform, but well soluble in alcohols, ether, and acetone.
4-Hydroxybenzoic acid is primarily known as the basis for the preparation of its esters, known as parabens, which are used as preservatives in cosmetics.
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[edit] Production
4-Hydroxybenzoic acid is produced commercially from potassium phenoxide and carbon dioxide in the Kolbe-Schmitt reaction. It can also be produced in the laboratory by heating potassium salicylate with potassium carbonate to 240 °C, followed by treating with acid.[1]
[edit] See also
The closely related 2-hydroxybenzoic acid is known as salicylic acid, a precursor to aspirin.
[edit] References
- ^ Organic Syntheses, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, Coll. Vol. 2, p. 341 (1943).
[edit] External links
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