Sorbic acid
Chemical name	(E,E)-2,4-Hexadienoic acid
Chemical formula	C6H8O2
Molecular mass	112.12 g/mol
CAS number	[110-44-1]
Melting point	135 °C
Boiling point	228 °C (dec)
SMILES	CC=CC=CC(O)O
Disclaimer and references

Sometimes confused with ascorbic acid, Vitamin C

Sorbic acid, or 2,4-hexadienoic acid, is a natural organic compound used as a food preservative. It has the chemical formula C₆H₈O₂. It was first isolated from the unripe berries of the rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), hence its name. IUPAC nomenclature is a system of naming chemical compounds and of describing the science of chemistry in general. ... A chemical formula (also called molecular formula) is a concise way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound. ... The molecular mass (abbreviated MM) of a substance, formerly also called molecular weight and abbreviated as MW, is the mass of one molecule of that substance, relative to the unified atomic mass unit u (equal to 1/12 the mass of one atom of carbon-12). ... CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for chemical compounds, polymers, biological sequences, mixtures and alloys. ... The melting point of a solid is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid. ... The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which it can change its state from a liquid to a gas throughout the bulk of the liquid at a given pressure. ... The simplified molecular input line entry specification or SMILES is a specification for unambiguously describing the structure of chemical molecules using short ASCII strings. ... This article deals with the molecular aspects of ascorbic acid. ... 3D representation of vitamin C Chemical structure of vitamin C Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient and human vitamin essential for life and for maintaining optimal health, used by the body for many purposes. ... Benzene An organic compound is any member of a large class of chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon, with the exception of carbides, carbonates, carbon oxides and elementary carbon. ... A preservative is a natural or synthetic chemical that is added to products such as foods, pharmaceuticals, paints, biological samples, etc. ... Species The rowans are plants of the Family Rosaceae, in the Genus Sorbus, Subgenus Sorbus. ...

Sorbic acid and its mineral salts, such as sodium sorbate, potassium sorbate and calcium sorbate, are antimicrobial agents often used as preservatives in food and drinks to prevent the growth of mold, yeast and fungi. In general the salts are preferred over the acid form because they are more soluble in water. The optimal pH for the antimicrobial activity is below pH 6.5 and sorbates are generally used at concentrations of 0.025% to 0.10%. Adding sorbate salts to food will however raise the pH of the food slightly so the pH may need to be adjusted to assure safety. Sodium sorbate, Na2C6H6O2, is a food additive. ... The structure of potassium sorbate Potassium sorbate is a mild preservative. ... Sorbic acid, or 2,4-hexadienoic acid, is a natural organic compound used as a food preservative. ...

Sorbic acid should not be confused with other chemically unrelated, but similarly named food additives sorbitol, polysorbate, and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). Sorbitol, also known as glucitol, is a sugar alcohol the body metabolises slowly. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This article deals with the molecular aspects of ascorbic acid. ...

The E numbers are: For the mathematical constant see: E (mathematical constant). ...

• E200 Sorbic acid
• E201 Sodium sorbate
• E202 Potassium sorbate
• E203 Calcium sorbate

Some molds (notably some Trichoderma and Penicillium strains) and yeasts are able to detoxify sorbates by decarboxylation, producing trans-1,3-pentadiene. The pentadiene manifests as a typical odor of kerosene or petroleum. Other detoxification reactions include reduction to 4-hexenol and 4-hexenoic acid. [1] Sodium sorbate, Na2C6H6O2, is a food additive. ... The structure of potassium sorbate Potassium sorbate is a mild preservative. ... Sorbic acid, or 2,4-hexadienoic acid, is a natural organic compound used as a food preservative. ... Microscopic photo of the hyphae and spores of Aspergillus fumigatus Moldy bread Moldy nectarines Molds (or moulds) are microscopic multinucleated multicellular fungi made up of hyphae (tube-like structures) which are usually separated from each other by divisions called septa. ... Species Penicillium notatum Penicillium glaucum Penicillium candida Penicillium roqueforti Penicillium marneffei Penicillium bilaiae Penicillium, commonly known as bread mold, is a genus of fungus that includes: Penicillium notatum, which produces the penicillin antibiotic. ... In biology, Strain can be used two ways. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A Decarboxylation is any chemical reaction in which a carboxyl group (-COOH) is split off from a compound as carbon dioxide (CO2). ... Trans is a Latin word meaning across, beyond or on the opposite side and is the opposite of cis, which means on the same side. In chemistry, a bond not subject to free rotation in which the greater radical on both ends is on the opposite side of the bond... Russian kerosene lamp Kerosene or paraffin oil (British English, not to be confused with the waxy solid also called paraffin wax or just paraffin) is a colorless flammable hydrocarbon liquid. ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Ignacy Łukasiewicz - inventor of the refining of kerosene from crude oil. ...

External links

• Sorbic acid on chm.bris.ac.uk
• Sorbic inchem.org
• MSDS at University of Oxford
• [110-44-1] [2] NIST web book entry
• Link page to external chemical sources.