Sodium Methylparaben is a sodium salt associated with methylparaben and belongs to the hydroxybenzoate family of specialty cosmetic ingredients. It is identified by CAS Number 5026-62-0 and EC Number 225-714-1, with the molecular formula C₈H₇NaO₃ and molecular weight 174.13 g/mol.
Its chemical identity makes it distinct from neutral methylparaben. Sodium Methylparaben is the sodium salt form of methylparaben and can therefore exhibit different physical and solution characteristics compared with the parent ester.
Sodium Methylparaben is commonly described as Methylparaben Sodium, Sodium Methyl Paraben, or Methylparaben Sodium Salt. PubChem records CAS 5026-62-0 and EC 225-714-1 and identifies methylparaben as its parent compound.
The ingredient consists of the methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate structure in its sodium salt form. This chemical form is relevant when selecting raw materials for formulations where the physical and chemical properties of the salt are required.
Sodium Methylparaben has been documented in cosmetic ingredient information as a preservative. PubChem's record incorporates information from the Cosmetic Ingredient Review concerning Sodium Methylparaben and the wider paraben family.
For formulation development, the ingredient should be assessed according to the intended product type, formulation composition, concentration, pH and destination-market requirements.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name | Methyl 4-Hydroxybenzoate Sodium Salt |
| CAS | 5026-62-0 |
| EC | 225-714-1 |
| Formula | C₈H₇NaO₃ |
| Molecular Weight | 174.13 g/mol |
| Parent Compound | Methylparaben |
| Chemical Class | Hydroxybenzoate / Paraben Salt |
These identity values are documented by PubChem and associated regulatory substance databases.
Published reference data identify Sodium Methylparaben as a solid salt. PubChem records a pH range of 9.7–10.3 for a 0.1% solution in carbon-dioxide-free water in its regulatory-linked data.
Because the pH value depends on concentration and test conditions, it should not be copied directly into the SDP pH (1% Solution) field. That CMS field should contain the actual SDP test specification if a 1% solution test is part of the product specification.
A regulatory-linked reference in PubChem describes a test involving acidification of a 10% aqueous solution of the sodium derivative, followed by isolation and drying of the resulting material. The resulting material has a melting range of 125–128°C. This is a method-specific property of the isolated material and should not automatically be presented as the melting point of the sodium salt itself.
Therefore, the SDP product page should use the actual approved specification for any melting-point requirement.
When Sodium Methylparaben is evaluated as a cosmetic ingredient, formulators should consider:
Laboratory compatibility and stability testing should be performed before commercial formulation.
Sodium Methylparaben has a specific entry in EU Regulation 358/2014, which amended the cosmetic preservative provisions. The regulation lists sodium methylparaben, CAS 5026-62-0, EC 225-714-1 under the entry covering 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and certain salts and esters. The cited maximum concentration is 0.4% as acid for a single ester and 0.8% as acid for mixtures of esters, subject to the conditions of the applicable entry.
This regulatory information should be treated as market-specific and regulation-specific. Current legislation and the exact finished-product formulation should always be checked before making a compliance claim.
For commercial Sodium Methylparaben Cosmetic Ingredient, quality control can include identity, purity, moisture, inorganic residue, impurities and other product-specific analytical tests.
The exact specification should be based on the actual SDP manufacturing and quality-control documentation rather than adopting values from unrelated suppliers.
Sodium Methylparaben should be stored according to the approved product specification and SDS. Good handling practice generally includes:
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White or colourless crystals / white powder |