What is Acetone?
Acetone is a universal colorless, volatile, flammable organic solvent with the chemical formula (CH3)2CO. Also known as propanone or dimethyl ketone, it is the smallest and simplest ketone.
Acetone is regularly used for cleaning in households, commercial operations, and laboratories. Moreover, it is an industrial solvent.
Acetone is an excellent solvent because it can dissolve other substances. Given that it is miscible and polar, it can work with products ranging from water to different organic compounds. Because of this polarity, acetone can mingle with polar solvents like water.
Acetone is produced naturally in plants and as a product of the animal metabolism. In the human body, it is present in urine and blood at low levels.
As a leading supplier of high-purity solvents, we offer the right product for your application whether it calls for HPLC acetone, ACS acetone, or one of the other grades.
Acetone Identification
Chart listing the various names, identifiers and synonyms of acetone.
| ID Type |
Identification |
|---|
| CAS Number |
67-64-1 |
Beilstein Registry
|
635680 |
| EG/EC Number |
2006622 |
| MDL Number |
MFCD00008765 |
| RIDADR |
UN 1090 3/PG 2 |
Acetone Physical and Chemical Properties
Chart including the physical and chemical properties of acetone. (Source: Merck Index, Pubchem)
| Property |
Value |
|---|
| Molecular Weight |
58.08 |
| Density |
0.791 g/mL at 25 ºC |
| Boiling Point |
56 ºC |
| Melting Point |
- 94 ºC |
| Flash Point |
-17.2 ºC |
Viscosity (cP)
|
0.306 at 25 ºC |
| Dielectric Constant |
21.01 at 20 ºC |
| Dipole Moment |
2.880 |
| UV cutoff |
330 nm |
| Refractive Index |
1.359 at 20 ºC |
| Vapor Pressure |
184 mm Hg (20 °C) |
| Vapor Density |
2 (vs. air) |
| Water Solubility |
17.22 M |
| Heat of Combustion |
Liquid: -1789 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Fusion |
5.77 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Vaporization |
29.10 kJ/mol at 56.05 ºC; 30.99 kJ/mol at 25 ºC
|
| Dissociation Constants |
pKa = 20 |
| Surface Tension |
0 ºC: 26.2 mN/m; 20 ºC: 23.7 mN/m; 40 ºC: 21.2 mN/m
|
| |
|
Acetone Miscibility and Immiscibility
| Property |
Chemical |
|---|
| Miscible with |
Acetic Acid, Acetone, Acetonitrile, Benzene, Butanol, Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), Butyl Acetate (n-), methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), Carbon Tetrachloride, Chloroform, Cyclohexane, Dichloroethane (1,2-), Dichloromethane, Diethyl ether, Diisopropyl ether, Dimethylformamide, Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO), Dioxane, Ethanol, Ethyl Acetate, Heptane, Hexane, Methanol, Pentane, 1-Propanol, Isopropanol, Tetrahydrofuran (THF), Toluene, Trichloroethylene, Isooctane, Water, Xylene |
| Immiscible with |
--- |
| Miscibility Information and Solvent Miscibility Table |
Acetone Uses
Acetone has many uses:
- As a solvent on fats, oils, waxes, resins, rubber, plastics, lacquers, varnishes, and rubber cements.
- As a reagent in organic synthesis for the manufacturing of coatings, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
- To produce methyl isobutyl ketone, mesityl oxide, acetic acid (ketene process), diacetone alcohol, bisphenol A, methyl methacrylate, explosives, rayon, photographic films, and isoprene.
- For the extraction of various principles from animal and plant substances; in paint and varnish removers; purifying paraffin; and for hardening and dehydrating tissues.
- In glassware cleaning, pharmaceutic (solvent,) and analyses, including liquid chromatography.
Some examples of these common uses are:
As a solvent, in the Jones oxidation reaction, which is the respective oxidation process of primary and secondary alcohols to acids and ketones. The reaction proceeds in the presence of chromic acid, aqueous sulfuric acid, and acetone.
As a reagent in the Baeyer-Drewson Indigo synthesis reaction during which the formation of indigos proceeds by an Aldol reaction, q.v., of o-nitrobenzaldehydes to acetone, pyruvic acid, or acetaldehyde.
Acetone Hazard Statements
GHS Information
| GHS Pictogram |
Statement |
 |
Flammable gases, category 1
Flammable aerosols, categories 1,2
Flammable liquids, categories 1,2,3
Flammable solids, categories 1,2
Self-reactive substances and mixtures, Types B,C,D,E,F
Pyrophoric liquids, category 1
Pyrophoric solids, category 1
Self-heating substances and mixtures, categories 1,2
Substances and mixtures, which in contact with water,
emit flammable gases, categories 1,2,3
Organic peroxides, Types B,C,D,E,F |
 |
Acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation), category 4
Skin irritation, category 2
Eye irritation, category 2
Skin sensitisation, category 1
Specific Target Organ Toxicity – Single exposure, category 3 |
Acetone SDS Information
An SDS (Safety Data Sheet) is available for each acetone product. Start your search for an SDS.
Find Related Solvents
How to Manipulate Acetone
Acetone is a substance that penetrates or dissolves some glove materials, resulting in leaks that contact the skin. Thus, choosing proper gloves guarantees the best protection for the skin.
Selecting Proper Gloves to Handle Acetone
Gloves for handing liquid solvents like acetone have a permeation factor, meaning the solvent slowly leaks through the glove to the skin.
New gloves will offer the best protection, but protection decreases over time. The first step shoul be to check the chemical resistance time on the glove package to understand how many times that glove can be used to handle acetone.
The glove's density and its reaction to chemical and external temperatures should also be considered.
The Best and the Worst Gloves to Protect the Skin from Acetone Contact
The best type of gloves to handle acetone are made of butyl rubber . This material has higher chemical resistance to acetone, making it ideal to safety manipulate acetone.
Gloves made of nitrile and organic compounds are the worst for hanling acetone. This kind of material does not have chemical resistance to acetone. Acetone reacts with this material and renders the gloves unsafe within minutes. Even neoprene gloves that have some chemical resistance to acetone are not as safe as butyl rubber gloves.
