Ammonium benzoate can be classified as a synthetic compound since its production process involves a chemical reaction between benzoic acid, which is a plant-derived substance, and ammonia or ammonium hydroxide. While the initial reactant (benzoic acid) may be of natural origin, the process used to obtain ammonium benzoate is synthetic in nature. So, it is regarded as a synthetic chemical even though it is marketed in some industries as “natural”.