Benzoyl peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide
Skeletal formula (top) Ball-and-stick model (bottom)
Clinical data
Trade namesBenzac, Panoxyl, others
Other namesbenzoperoxide, dibenzoyl peroxide (DBPO), BPO
AHFS/Drugs.comProfessional Drug Facts
MedlinePlusa601026
License data
Routes of
administration		Topical
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
  • benzoic peroxyanhydride[3]
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.002.116 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC14H10O4
Molar mass242.230 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Density1.334 g/cm3
Melting point103 to 105 °C (217 to 221 °F) decomposes
Solubility in waterpoor mg/mL (20 °C)
  • c1ccc(cc1)C(=O)OOC(=O)c2ccccc2
  • InChI=1S/C14H10O4/c15-13(11-7-3-1-4-8-11)17-18-14(16)12-9-5-2-6-10-12/h1-10H
  • Key:OMPJBNCRMGITSC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Data page
Benzoyl peroxide (data page)

Benzoyl peroxide is a chemical compound (specifically, an organic peroxide) with structural formula (C6H5−C(=O)O−)2, often abbreviated as (BzO)2. In terms of its structure, the molecule can be described as two benzoyl (C6H5−C(=O)−, Bz) groups connected by a peroxide (−O−O−). It is a white granular solid with a faint odour of benzaldehyde, poorly soluble in water but soluble in acetone, ethanol, and many other organic solvents. Benzoyl peroxide is an oxidizer, which is principally used in the production of polymers.[4]

Benzoyl peroxide is mainly used in production of plastics[5] and for bleaching flour, hair, plastics and textiles.[6][7]

As a bleach, it has been used as a medication and a water disinfectant.[5][7]

As a medication, benzoyl peroxide is mostly used to treat acne, either alone or in combination with other treatments.[8] Some versions are sold mixed with antibiotics such as clindamycin.[9][10] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[11] It is available as an over-the-counter and generic medication.[12][9] It is also used in dentistry for teeth whitening. In 2021, it was the 284th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 700,000 prescriptions.[13][14]

  1. ^ "Epsolay- benzoyl peroxide cream". DailyMed. 25 April 2022. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Epsolay- benzoyl peroxide cream". DailyMed. 5 May 2022. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  3. ^ IUPAC Chemical Nomenclature and Structure Representation Division (2013). "P-65.7.5". In Favre HA, Powell WH (eds.). Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry: IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013. IUPAC–RSC. ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ullmann was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Stellman JM (1998). Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety: Guides, indexes, directory. International Labour Organization. p. 104. ISBN 978-92-2-109817-1. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Pl2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Pommerville JC (2012). Alcamo's Fundamentals of Microbiology: Body Systems. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. p. 214. ISBN 978-1-4496-0595-7. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017.
  8. ^ World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. pp. 307–308. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 978-92-4-154765-9.
  9. ^ a b British national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. p. 820. ISBN 978-0-85711-156-2.
  10. ^ Braun-Falco O, Plewig G, Wolff HH, Burgdorf W (2012). Dermatology (2 ed.). Springer Science & Business Media. p. 1039. ISBN 978-3-642-97931-6. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017.
  11. ^ World Health Organization (2023). The selection and use of essential medicines 2023: web annex A: World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 23rd list (2023). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/371090. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2023.02.
  12. ^ Hamilton R (2015). Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2015 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 173. ISBN 978-1-284-05756-0.
  13. ^ "The Top 300 of 2021". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Benzoyl Peroxide - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Retrieved 14 January 2024.