General Description
Off-white to yellow-white crystalline solid with an odor of camphor. Slightly acrid taste. When broken the fresh surfaces have a milky-white color.
Reactivity Profile
BENZOIN(119-53-9) is sensitive to heat and light. This chemical is incompatible with oxidizers. BENZOIN(119-53-9) reduces Fehling's solution.
Air & Water Reactions
Insoluble in water.
Fire Hazard
Flash point data for this chemical are not available; however, BENZOIN is probably combustible.
Chemical Properties
Benzoin has a faint, sweet, balsamic odor.
Chemical Properties
light yellow powder or crystals with a camphor-like odour
Occurrence
Benzoin is a resin from the trees of genus Styrax.
Definition
benzoin: A colourless crystallinecompound, C6H5CHOHCOC6H5; m.p.137°C. It is a condensation product ofbenzenecarbaldehyde (benzaldehyde),made by the action of sodiumcyanide on benzenecarbaldehyde inalcoholic solution. It also occurs naturallyas the resin of a tropical tree. Itis both a secondary alcohol and a ketone,and gives reactions characteristicof both types of compound.
Definition
ChEBI: A ketone that consists of acetophenone bearing hydroxy and phenyl substituents at the alpha-position. The parent of the class of benzoins.
Taste threshold values
Taste characteristics at 25 ppm: spicy, balsamic, resinous, fruity with an herbal nuance.
Safety Profile
Slightly toxic by ingestion andskin contact. Mutation data reported. A flammable liquid.When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke andirritating fumes.
Synthesis
It may be prepared by condensation of benzaldehyde with an alkali cyanide and used in organic synthesis.
Purification Methods
Crystallise benzoin from CCl4, hot EtOH (8mL/g), or 50% acetic acid. Also crystallise it from high purity *benzene, then twice from high purity MeOH, to remove fluorescent impurities [Elliott & Radley Anal Chem 33 1623 1961]. It can be sublimed. [Beilstein 8 IV 1279.]
