Salicylic acid
General Product Information
| Article | Salicylic acid |
| Synonyms | 2-Hydroxybenzoic acid |
| CAS No. | 69-72-7 |
| EEG No. | – |
| EINECS No. | 200-712-3 |
| IMO | – |
| Tariff Code | 29182100 |
| UN No. | – |
| VLG/ADR | – |
Description
Salicylic acid is an organic compound belonging to the group of salicylates. It is a commonly used chemical in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical industries. Salicylic acid is a white crystalline powder with a distinctive odor. It is often used in products to treat skin conditions, such as acne and warts. In addition, it is used as an active ingredient in various disinfectants and in the synthesis of other chemical compounds.
Characteristics
- Grade: Pharmaceutical.
- BP Grade: High purity and meets stricter standards for solvent residues and other contaminants.
- High purity: Meets pharmaceutical requirements for use in medicinal applications.
- Odor: Odorless.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Chemical formula | C7H6O3 |
| Molar Weight | 138.12 g/mol |
| Melting Point | 159 °C |
| Boiling Point | 211 °C (at 1 atm) |
| Solubility | Moderately soluble in water, highly soluble in alcohol and ether. |
| Density | – |
| Refractive Index | – |
| pH | 2.5-3.0 (at 10% solution) |
| Color | White |
| Shape | Crystals or a crystalline powder |
Applications
Salicylic acid is applied in various ways, for instance:
1. Pharmaceutical Industry
Salicylic acid is often used in the treatment of skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, maggot eyes, warts and corns. It has keratolytic properties, meaning it softens the upper layers of the skin and helps at removing dead skin cells.
2. Cosmetics
In cosmetic products such as cleansers, toners, and acne treatments, salicylic acid is used for its exfoliating properties.
3. Industrial Applications
It is used in the synthesis of dyes, perfume chemicals and other specialty chemicals.
4. Chemical Industry
Salicylic acid is an important intermediate in the production of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) and other pharmaceutical products.
Interessing Links
- British Pharmacopoeia (BP) of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO) – Guidelines and standards for food additives and food ingredients.
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – For chemical information and regulations.
- European Food Information Council (EFIC) – Food facts for healthy choices.
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) – Information about safety and application of food additives.
- European Pharmacopoeia (EP) of the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare.
- PubChem – Salicylic Acid of the National Library of Medicine durch das National Center for Biotechnology Information.
- U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP)
- Wikipedia – Salicylic acid