Benzalkonium Chloride
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Pentonium, Alpagelle, Zephiran, Benzalkonii chloridum, Cloruro de benzalconio, Chlorure de benzalkonium, CHEBI:3020, Fundamentals, Greenberry
Synthetic
Preservative
Cleanser
Not Clean
Benzalkonium Chloride is a mixture of alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chlorides that conforms generally to the formula:
Solubility Very soluble in alcohol, acetone; slightly soluble in benzene; almost insoluble in ether
Formula
C22H40ClN
Mol. Weight
354.00
CAS #
63449-41-2, 68391-01-5, 68424-85-1, 85409-22-9
Form
Liquid
State
White or yellowish-white, amorphous powder or gelatinous pieces; [HSDB]
Functions
Antimicrobial
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Antistatic
Deodorant
Preservative
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Dispersing
Fights Bacteria
Traditional Use
A quaternary ammonium compound synthesized in the early 20th century as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative. Widely adopted by the cosmetics industry in the 1930s-1940s as a replacement for less stable natural preservatives.
EWG
6
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
ewg-6
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Phototoxicity Concern
Concentration Guide
3%
0%4%
Reg. Limit
EU regulatory limit: 3%. Avoid contact with the eyes Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex III (Restricted Substances), Entry 65.
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR