| Description | 
                                
                                    A white, crystalline or granular powder or flakes; hygroscopic
                                 | 
	
                            
                                Identification | 
                                
                                    -
                                 | 
	
                            
                            
                                
	
                                | Identification  'A' | 
                                
                                    To 10% w/v solution add ferric chloirde test solution ; a buff coloured precipitate is fomred. Add dilute hydrochloric acid ; a white crystalline precipitate is produced
                                 | 
	
                            
                                Identification  'B' | 
                                
                                    Gives the reactions of sodium salts and reactions (B) and (C) of benzoates
                                 | 
	
                            
                            
                                
	
                                | Appearance of solution | 
                                
                                    10.0% w/v solution in carbon dioxide free water is clear and not more intensely coloured than reference solution Y6
                                 | 
	
                            
                                Acidity or alkalinity | 
                                
                                    NMT 0.2 ml of 0.1 M hydrochloric acid or 0.1 M sodium hydroxide is required to change the colour of the solution
                                 | 
	
                            
                            
                                
	
                                | Chlorinated compounds | 
                                
                                    The filtrate complies with the limit test for chlorides
                                 | 
	
                            
                                Loss on drying  (at 105°C) | 
                                
                                    NMT 2.0%
                                 | 
	
                            
                            
                                
	
                                | Assay                                                                                                | 
                                
                                    NLT 99.0% and NMT 100.5% of C7H5NaO2, calculated on the dried basis
                                 |