Final answer:
Using litmus paper instead of pH paper and adjusting the pH to 7 can lead to mistakes and affect the purity and properties of the benzoic acid recovered.
Step-by-step explanation:
When recovering the benzoic acid component, using litmus paper instead of pH paper and adjusting the pH to 7 can lead to mistakes and affect the product. Litmus paper is a pH indicator that changes color to blue in the presence of a base. However, it is not as precise as pH paper which provides a range of colors based on the pH level. By adjusting the pH to 7 using litmus paper, there may be an incorrect measurement of acidity or alkalinity, which can affect the purity and properties of the benzoic acid recovered.