what type of compound is benzoic acid

It is an organic acid, based on cyclic hydrocarbon structure, it is corrosive, covalent, and is used in derivative form in many cancer chemotherapy drugs.

I have no idea what type of descriptor you were looking for.

Here is a site that gives some details.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzoic_acid

Benzoic acid is an organic compound that belongs to the carboxylic acid family. It has the chemical formula C6H5COOH. To determine the type of compound, we need to analyze its molecular structure.

One way to determine the type of compound is by looking at its functional groups. In the case of benzoic acid, it contains a carboxyl group (-COOH) attached to a phenyl group (C6H5). The carboxyl group is the functional group that defines the compound as a carboxylic acid.

Carboxylic acids are characterized by the presence of a carboxyl group, which consists of a carbonyl group (-CO-) and a hydroxyl group (-OH) bonded to the same carbon atom. This functional group gives carboxylic acids their unique properties such as acidity.

In summary, the molecular structure and the presence of a carboxyl group classify benzoic acid as a carboxylic acid.