benzenesulfonic acid

noun

ben·​zene·​sul·​fon·​ic acid

variants or chiefly British benzenesulphonic acid

ˌben-ˌzēn-ˌsəl-ˌfän-ik-, -ˌfōn- 

: a colorless crystalline acid C₆H₅SO₃H made by sulfonating benzene and used in organic synthesis, in the form of its besylate in pharmacology, and in the form of derivatives as detergents