Food additives, sugars and sweeteners
Sodium benzoate vs potassium sorbate
Sodium benzoate (C7H5NaO2, CAS 532-32-1) and potassium sorbate (C6H7KO2, CAS 24634-61-5) are both listed under food preservatives.
Sodium benzoate has a molar mass of 144.11 g/mol, potassium sorbate 150.22 g/mol.
Measured melting points are 436 °C for sodium benzoate and >270 for potassium sorbate.
Both carry the GHS signal word Warning.
On CompoundList, 586 suppliers list sodium benzoate and 369 suppliers list potassium sorbate.
Data last updated 7 October 2026
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Name in our database | Sodium benzoate | Potassium sorbate |
| CAS number | 532-32-1 | 24634-61-5 |
| Molecular formula | C7H5NaO2 | C6H7KO2 |
| Molar mass | 144.11 g/mol | 150.22 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | sodium benzoate | potassium (2E,4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoate |
| EC number | 208-534-8 | 246-376-1 |
| Physical properties | ||
| Appearance | White, granules or crystalline powder | White powder |
| Melting point | 436 °C | >270 |
| Boiling point | >450 | Not recorded |
| Density | 1.50 g/cm³ (OECD Guideline 109 (Density of Liquids and Solids)) | 1.363 at 25 °C/20 °C |
| Flash point | >100 | Not recorded |
| Solubility | In water, 556 g/L (temperature and pH not reported) | Solubility in water at 20 °C: 58.2%, in alcohol: 6.5% |
| LogP (octanol/water)Computed from the structure | -2.95 | -3.13 |
| Safety (GHS) | ||
| Signal word | Warning | Warning |
| Pictograms | ||
| Hazard statements |
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| Uses and classification | ||
| Uses and functions |
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| Category | Food and feed additives › Food preservatives | Food and feed additives › Food preservatives |
| HS code | 291631Benzoic acid, its salts and esters | 291619Unsaturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, halides, peroxides… |
| Market on CompoundList | ||
| Suppliers | 586 suppliers | 369 suppliers |
| Supplier countries | 64 countries, most in India, China, United States | 56 countries, most in China, India, United States |
| Price rangeOnly prices set by suppliers who manage their own profile | Price on request | Price on request |
Measured and computed values as shown on each chemical page, plus live listings on CompoundList. Details may have changed, please confirm them with the supplier. Safety data is a summary, not an SDS.
Sodium benzoate
Potassium sorbate
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