Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a monohydroxybenzoic acid that is benzoic acid with a hydroxy group at the ortho position. It is obtained from the bark of the white willow and wintergreen leaves. It has a role as an antiinfective agent, an antifungal agent, a plant hormone, a keratolytic drug, an EC 1.11.1.11 (L-ascorbate peroxidase) inhibitor, a plant metabolite and an algal metabolite. It is a conjugate acid of a salicylate.
IUPAC: 2-hydroxybenzoic acid
PubChem
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Melting Point | 315 °F (USCG, 1999) |
| Boiling Point | 211 °C at 2.00E+01 mm Hg |
| Density | 1.44 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink |
| Solubility | 2240 mg/L (at 25 °C) |
| Flash Point | 315 °F (157 °C) (closed cup) |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.000082 [mmHg] |
| pH | pH of saturated solution: 2.4 |
| Appearance | Salicylic acid is an odorless white to light tan solid. Sinks and mixes slowly with water. (USCG, 1999) |
Data: PubChem · Last updated: 4/20/2026
GHS Classification
No GHS classification data available.
Classification data is sourced from ECHA.
Regulatory Compliance
Listed
note: Status based on EPA TSCA Active Inventory · inventory name: TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory
View sourceGlobal Trade Intelligence
No trade flow data available for this chemical.
HS Code(s): 2918
Data: UN Comtrade
Suppliers on Chem-Exchange
No suppliers currently listing Salicylic acid
List Your ProductsSafety Data Sheets
No SDS documents available
Upload an SDS document