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hydroxybenzoic acid

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noun hy·droxy·ben·zo·ic acid \-ben-ˌzō-ik-\

Medical Definition of hydroxybenzoic acid

  1. :  any of three crystalline derivatives C7H6O3 of benzoic acid that contain one hydroxyl group per molecule: asa:  the colorless para-substituted acid used in making several of its esters that are effective preservatives—called also parahydroxybenzoic acidb:  salicylic acid

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