Salicylic acid is an odorless white to light tan solid. Sinks and mixes slowly with water.Salicylic acid is mainly used as the precursor to synthesize aspirin, a commonly used analgesic and antipyretic.Due to its keratolytic action, it is also used in topical ointments.
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 keratolytic drug.It is a conjugate acid of a salicylate.