Benzoin

Benzoin is a fragrant concrete resinous juice flowing from a styrax-tree of Sumatra, used as a cosmetic, and burned as incense. This fragrant gum resin is also known as gum benzoin or gum benjamin, and is obtained from several species of the genus Styrax, particularly from Styrax benzoin, belonging to the family Styracaceae. It is worth mentioning here that Styrax is a tropical tree of eastern Asia, found chiefly in Java and Sumatra. Its Arabic name is 'lubanjawi', literally 'incense of Java'.

In chemistry, the term benzoin is used for a white crystalline aromatic ketone found in the gum. The ketone is also named 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone. Its chemical formula is C₆H₅CHOHCOC₆H₅.

Nearby pages
Benzophenone, Benzopyrene, Benzoquinone, Benzoyl, Benzoyl peroxide