| Names | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name 4-Methylbenzoic acid | |||
| Other names para-toluic acid p-toluic acid para-methylbenzoic acid p-methylbenzoic acid toluene-4-carboxylic acid crithminic acid | |||
| Identifiers | |||
3D model (JSmol) | |||
| 3904552 | |||
| ChEBI | |||
| ChEMBL | |||
| ChemSpider | |||
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.002.549 | ||
| EC Number |
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| KEGG | |||
PubChem CID | |||
| RTECS number |
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| UNII | |||
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |||
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| Properties | |||
| C8H8O2 | |||
| Molar mass | 136.150 g·mol−1 | ||
| Appearance | Crystalline solid | ||
| Density | 1.06g/mL | ||
| Melting point | 180 to 181 °C (356 to 358 °F; 453 to 454 K) [1] | ||
| Boiling point | 274 to 275 °C (525 to 527 °F; 547 to 548 K) [1] | ||
| Sparingly soluble in hot water | |||
| Thermochemistry | |||
Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | −429 kJ/mol | ||
Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | 3862 kJ/mol | ||
| Hazards | |||
| GHS labelling: | |||
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| Warning | |||
| H302, H315, H317, H319, H335 | |||
| P261, P264, P270, P271, P272, P280, P301+P312, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P330, P332+P313, P333+P313, P337+P313, P362, P363, P403+P233, P405, P501 | |||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |||
p-Toluic acid (4-methylbenzoic acid) is a substituted benzoic acid with the formula CH3C6H4CO2H. It is a white solid that is poorly soluble in water but soluble in acetone. A laboratory route to p-toluic acid involves oxidation of p-cymene with nitric acid. [2]
p-Toluic acid is an intermediate in the conversion of p-xylene to terephthalic acid, a commodity chemical used in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate. It is generated both by the oxidation of p-xylene as well as the hydrogenolysis of 4-carboxybenzaldehyde. In related processes it is converted to methyl p-toluate, which is oxidized to monomethyl terephthalate. [3]