Acetone
What Is Acetone?
Acetone is a colorless, volatile, and flammable organic solvent with a distinct sweet odor. It occurs naturally in plants and the environment, dissolves completely in water, and does not bind to soil or accumulate in aquatic organisms.
In humans, acetone is produced and disposed of via normal metabolic processes. Produced during animal fat metabolism, it’s found in trace amounts in human urine and blood. Acetone can be detected in vehicle exhaust and smoke from volcanoes, fires, tobacco, wood, and other materials.
Exposure to moderate or high acetone concentrations can cause eye, nose, throat, and lung irritation. Exposure to high or very high concentrations can cause dizziness, nausea, uncoordinated movements, slurred speech, and coma.
After extensive testing, acetone is not classified as genotoxic, carcinogenic, or neurotoxic. In 1995, it was listed as volatile organic compound (VOC) exempt by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Synonyms: Dimethyl ketone, 2-propanone, beta-ketopropane, propan-2-one, dimethyl formaldehyde, methyl ketone, pyroacetic ether, dimethylketal, ketone propane
Physical and Chemical Properties
| Property | Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Molecular Weight | 58.08 g/mol | ||
Density | 0.7845 g/mL at 25ºC | ||
Boiling Point | 56.05ºC | ||
Melting Point | -94.7ºC | ||
Flash Point | 17ºC | ||
Viscosity | 0.295 cP at 25ºC | ||
Dielectric Constant | 20.7 at 25ºC | ||
Dipole Moment | 2.91 D | ||
UV Cutoff | 330 nm | ||
Refractive Index | 1.359 at 20ºC | ||
Vapor Pressure | 110 mm Hg (20ºC) | ||
Water Solubility | Miscible | ||
Dissociation Constants | -7 pKa (conjugate acid) | ||
Surface Tension | 23.7 dyn/cm at 20ºC |
Uses
Acetone is used to make plastics, fibers, pharmaceuticals, paint solvents, nail polish removers, and cosmetics. It’s also used as a solvent for fats, oils, waxes, resins, rubber, plastics, lacquers, varnishes, and rubber cements.
Designations and Grades
| Property | Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
CAS Number | 67-64-1 | ||
MDL Number | MFCD00008765 | ||
RIDAD/UN Number | UN 1090 3/PG 2 | ||
Beilstein Registry | 635680 | ||
EG/EC Number | 2006622 | ||
NSC Number | 135802 | ||
ICSC Number | 0087 | ||
RTECS Number | AL3150000 |
Grades
ACS, ACS Reagent, Certified ACS
Anhydrous/Dry/Extra Dry
Biochemical
Electronic/Semiconductor
FCC
GC, Capillary GC
GC Gradient
GC/Pesticide Residue
Histological
HPLC Gradient
HPLC/UHPLC
Laboratory/Technical
LC-MS, Ultra LC-MS
NF/USP/JP/EP/BP
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