Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) is a white crystalline powder at room temperature, with a slight benzoic acid odor. It is insoluble in water but soluble in some organic solvents. As an organic peroxide, its chemical properties are highly unstable; it decomposes readily upon heating, friction, or impact, generating free radicals, thus serving as an efficient free radical initiator and strong oxidizing agent. Under controlled conditions, it can be used to initiate polymerization reactions and may react violently with reducing substances. Based on its ability to generate active free radicals, its primary applications include serving as an initiator in polymer synthesis (e.g., polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride) and as a curing (cross-linking) agent for silicone rubber and unsaturated polyester resins.