Also called E211, has the chemical formula C6H5COONa. It is a sodium salt of benzoic acid and exists in this form when dissolved in water. It can be produced by reacting sodium hydroxide with benzoic acid. Also used as a preservative. It is bacteriostatic (it hampers the growth of bacteria by interfering with bacterial protein production, DNA replication, and cellular metabolism). Also fungistatic (stops fungi from reproducing). Only effective in acidic conditions (pH