Comparing E210 - Benzoic acid vs E280 - Propionic acid

Synonyms
E210
Benzoic acid
E280
Propionic acid
Propanoic acid
CH3CH2COOH
Products

Found in 386 products

Found in 448 products

Search rank & volume
#7533.2K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#1498.3K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
Awareness score

×12.42
over-aware

×2.70
over-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Interest over time for 4 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Popular questions
  1. Is benzoic acid soluble in water?

    Only sparingly—about 3 g per liter at room temperature; its solubility increases in hot water and it dissolves readily in many organic solvents.

  2. Is benzoic acid polar?

    It has a polar carboxyl group but a nonpolar aromatic ring, so overall it’s only weakly polar; its benzoate salt is much more polar and water‑soluble.

  3. Is benzoic acid a strong acid?

    No—it's a weak acid, with a pKa of about 4.2.

  4. What is the melting point of benzoic acid?

    About 122–123 °C (251–253 °F).

  5. Is benzoic acid bad for you?

    At approved food levels it’s considered safe, with an ADI of 0–5 mg/kg body weight/day; some people may experience irritation or hypersensitivity, and benzene formation in certain acidic drinks is monitored and kept very low.

  1. Where does propionic acid come from?

    It occurs naturally, produced by Propionibacterium in fermented foods (like Swiss-type cheeses) and in the human gut, and is also made commercially by microbial fermentation or petrochemical synthesis.

  2. Is propionic acid a strong acid?

    No—it's a weak carboxylic acid (pKa about 4.9), similar in strength to acetic acid.

  3. What is propionic acid used for?

    As a food additive (E280), it acts as a preservative that inhibits mold and some bacteria, commonly used in bread, baked goods, and cheese; its salts (e.g., calcium or sodium propionate) are also used.

  4. How is propionic acid made?

    It’s produced industrially via petrochemical routes (e.g., hydroformylation/oxidation of ethylene or hydrocarboxylation) and by fermentation using Propionibacterium on sugars or glycerol.

  5. How to reset a sansa e280?

    This question is unrelated to the food additive E280 (propionic acid); for resetting a Sansa e280 media player, please consult the device manual or the manufacturer’s support site.