Potassium Benzoate C7H5KO2 Powder

Potassium benzoate (C7H5KO2) is a fine white crystalline powder supplied at lab reagent grade. It is the standard organic fuel for pyrotechnic whistle compositions, where combustion with an oxidizer proceeds in an oscillating manner that produces the characteristic high-pitched tone in whistling rockets, inserts, and static devices.

It has largely displaced older whistle fuels such as gallic acid and the picrates because it is more stable in storage and burns without introducing unwanted flame color. Outside pyrotechnics, potassium benzoate is a widely used food and beverage preservative and a corrosion inhibitor in aqueous systems.