Ammonium Benzoate

Ammonium Benzoate is the ammonium salt of benzoic acid, appearing as a white, odorless, crystalline solid that is highly soluble in water and valued for both industrial and preservative applications.​

Chemical and Physical Properties

Chemical formula: C₇H₉NO₂ (often written as C₆H₅COONH₄).​

Molar mass: 139.15 g/mol.​

Melting point: 192–198 °C (decomposes).​

Soluble in water (approx. 14 g/100 mL at 20°C).​

pH (10% solution): about 5.0–8.0 (neutral to slightly acidic).​

Appears as a white, non-sticky powder or crystalline solid, with a slight ammoniacal odor.​

Stable under ordinary conditions; stored in a cool, dry place.​

Applications and Uses

Used in industrial and consumer products as a preservative, especially for adhesives, rubber latex, and paper wrappers.​

Common as a mild, amine-free flash rust inhibitor in coatings for ferrous metal substrates.​

Plays a role in reducing vulcanization time in rubber production, and as an agent in corrosion inhibition or anti-scaling treatments.​

Incorporated as a preservative in cosmetics, hair care, and personal care items.​

Utilized as an analytical reagent and as a flavoring or food preservative in select regions due to weak antimicrobial properties.​

Applies to the electronics sector for electrolytic capacitor production and other specialized chemical synthesis.​

Safety and Handling

Considered a low-toxicity substance, but may cause irritation to eyes, skin, and respiratory tract; use standard laboratory precautions.​

Environmental hazard in concentrated form; avoid uncontrolled release to the environment.​

Shelf life: up to 5 years if stored properly.​

Ammonium benzoate’s versatility, solubility, and mild antimicrobial action make it useful in industrial preservation, surface treatment, personal care, and specialty manufacturing sectors.​