Comparing E210 - Benzoic acid vs E421 - Mannitol
Overview
Synonyms
Products
Found in 386 products
Found in 571 products
Search rank & volume
Awareness score
Search volume over time
Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Popular questions
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.
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.
Is benzoic acid a strong acid?
No—it's a weak acid, with a pKa of about 4.2.
What is the melting point of benzoic acid?
About 122–123 °C (251–253 °F).
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.
What is mannitol used for?
In foods, E421 mannitol is used as a low‑calorie sweetener, bulking agent, and humectant/stabilizer (common in sugar‑free gum, candies, and baked goods); it’s also a pharmaceutical excipient. Medically, IV mannitol is an osmotic diuretic to reduce intracranial and intraocular pressure and promote diuresis.
How mannitol works?
As a food ingredient, it’s poorly absorbed so it provides fewer calories and a low glycemic response, with a mild cooling taste. As a medicine, it acts osmotically—filtered by the kidneys and minimally reabsorbed—raising plasma and tubular fluid osmolality to draw water from tissues and increase urine output, lowering brain/eye pressure.
How does mannitol work?
It works osmotically when given IV, increasing blood and renal filtrate osmolality so water moves from tissues into the circulation and then into urine, reducing intracranial and intraocular pressure. In foods, its limited absorption yields a lower-calorie, low‑glycemic sweetening effect.
Is mannitol safe for dogs?
Mannitol isn’t known to be acutely toxic to dogs like xylitol, but ingestion can cause diarrhea and gas, and large amounts may lead to dehydration or electrolyte imbalances. Therapeutic IV mannitol should only be used by a veterinarian; consult your vet especially for dogs with kidney or heart disease.
Is mannitol salt agar selective or differential?
Both: the high salt concentration makes it selective for staphylococci, and mannitol with phenol red makes it differential by turning yellow when mannitol‑fermenting organisms (e.g., many S. aureus) produce acid.