Benzoates
Benzoates are the salts or esters of benzoic acid .
Extraction and presentation
The salts of benzoic acid are formed when the free acid is neutralized with the corresponding alkalis or when benzoic acid esters are hydrolyzed.
Salts
The salts consist of benzoate anions and a cation . Examples are calcium benzoate and sodium benzoate (food preservatives). If a benzoate salt is treated with an acid , benzoic acid is produced again.
Ester
The esters can be prepared from benzoic acid and alcohols . They are mostly colorless, fruity-smelling liquids that are difficult to dissolve in water and easily soluble in alcohol and ether. Important representatives are methyl benzoate (solvent and odorant additive) and ethyl benzoate .