a sweet, odorless, white powder, CHCOONa, the sodium salt of benzoic acid, used as a food preservative, antiseptic, etc.
See sodium benzoate in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
The sodium salt of benzoic acid, NaC7H5O2, used as a food preservative, an antiseptic, and an intermediate in dye manufacture and in the production of pharmaceuticals. Also called benzoate of soda.