What is the Difference Between Picric Acid and Benzoic Acid

Thekey difference between picric acid and benzoic acidis that picric acid is available as a yellow color powder form, whereas benzoic acid is available as acrystallinesolid that is colorless.

苦酸和苯甲酸是有机合成反应中重要的有机化合物。这些物质形成pH值低于7.0的水溶液。

CONTENTS

1.Overview and Key Difference
2.What is Picric Acid
3.什么是苯甲酸
4.Picric Acid vs Benzoic Acid in Tabular Form
5.摘要 - 苦酸与苯甲酸

What is Picric Acid?

Picric acid is an organic compound having the chemical formula (O₂N)₃C₆H₂OH. The IUPAC name of this compound is 2,4,6-trinitrophenol. It has a bitter taste, which leads to its name “picric,” which refers to the “bitter taste” in the Greek language. Picric acid is among the most acidic酚类. Similar to other nitrated organic compounds, picric acid is also explosive, which defines its major application. However, it has some uses in medicine as well; as an antiseptic, to treat burn wounds, and as a dye.

Usually, the ring structure of the phenol molecule is highly active. It is activated towardselectrophilic substitution反应。因此，当我们尝试硝化苯酚时，即使使用稀释nitric acid, it gives high molecular weight tars. Thereafter, we need to nitrate it with concentrated nitric acid. There, the nitro groups tend to replace sulfonic acid groups. This reaction is highly exothermic. Therefore, we need to carefully control the temperature of the reaction mixture. This is a common method of producing picric acid. Alternatively, we can produce this substance from the nitration of 2,4-dinitrophenol using nitric acid.

有几种用途的苦味酸，包括其在弹药和炸药中的用途，用于制备有机碱的结晶盐，在某些合金的生产中，在BOUIN溶液的生产中，等等。

什么是苯甲酸？

Benzoic acid is the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid. The molecular formula of benzoic acid is C6H5COOH. The molar mass of benzoic acid is about 122.12 g/mol. One benzoic acid molecule is composed of a benzene ring substituted with a carboxylic acid group (-COOH).

At room temperature and pressure, benzoic acid is a white crystalline solid. It is slightly soluble in water. Benzoic acid has a pleasant odor. The melting point of benzoic acid solid is about 122.41 °C. The boiling point of benzoic acid is given as 249.2 °C, but it decomposes at 370 °C.

Benzoic acid can undergo electrophilic aromatic substitution due to the electron-withdrawing property of the carboxylic group. The carboxylic acid can provide the aromatic ring with pi electrons. Then it becomes rich in electrons. Therefore, electrophiles can react with the aromatic ring.

What is the Difference Between Picric Acid and Benzoic Acid?

苦酸和苯甲酸是有机合成反应中重要的有机化合物。这些物质形成pH值低于7.0的水溶液。苦味酸和苯甲酸之间的关键区别在于，苦酸可以作为黄色粉末形式获得，而苯甲酸则以无色的结晶固体使用。此外，苦酸是无味的，而苯甲酸具有淡淡，宜人的气味。

The below infographic presents the differences between picric acid and benzoic acid in tabular form for side by side comparison.

摘要 - 苦酸与苯甲酸

Picric acid is an organic compound having the chemical formula (O₂N)₃C₆H₂OH. Benzoic acid is the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid. The key difference between picric acid and benzoic acid is that picric acid is available as a yellow color powder form, whereas benzoic acid is available as a crystalline solid that is colorless.

Reference:

1. “Picric Acid.”百科全书大不列颠，百科全书大不列颠公司

Image Courtesy:

1. “Pikrinsäure” By NEUROtiker – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Pikriinhape54” By Tiirats – Own work(CC BY-SA 3.0)via Commons Wikimedia
3. “Benzoesäure” By NEUROtiker – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia