DieForelle - 7-2-2017 at 11:52
was recently going to dispose of some 10 year old methyl benzoate, 500 ml. I noticed 3 flower-like crystals of some kind of condensation product in
the bottom of the amber bottle. About the size of a small button mushroom cap. Immediately moved it outside and decanted most of the ester off into
another container. Is it possible those are explosive peroxides? Seems more likely they are just byproduct of a slow hydrolysis...going back to
benzoic acid. But I wanted to be sure.
Dr.Bob - 7-2-2017 at 13:34
I would guess benzoic acid, simple enough to test, let the crystals dry and take a mp. Not much likelihood of peroxides forming in a ester. I see
those in old bottle of benzaldhyde often.