Solvent · polar aprotic
Acetone C3H6O
Also: propanone
Common HPLC/GC and general lab solvent. In HPLC used as a strong (high elution strength) reversed-phase organic modifier and a normal-phase/prep eluent, and widely as a wash/rinse/diluent solvent; its very high UV cutoff (~330 nm) makes it unsuitable for low-wavelength UV detection (better suited to MS, ELSD, or CAD detection). In GC it is a frequent injection/dilution solvent and headspace/residual-solvent analyte. Also a common cleaning solvent for glassware and instruments.
Compiled by Hemant RawatLast reviewed July 2026How we verify
Properties
- Formula
- C3H6O
- CAS number
- 67-64-1
- UV cutoff
- 330 nm
- Snyder polarity index (P′)
- 5.1
- Selectivity group
- VIa
- Eluotropic strength ε° (silica)
- 0.53
- Boiling point
- 56.05 °C
- Viscosity (25 °C)
- 0.32 cP
- Refractive index (nD²⁰)
- 1.3588
- Density
- 0.791 g/mL
- Water miscibility
- miscible
- USP <467> class
- Class 3
Safety
- highly flammable (flash point ~ -20 C)
- eye/skin/respiratory irritant
- low acute toxicity (CNS depressant at high vapor concentration)
- not a carcinogen (not IARC/OSHA listed)
- not a known peroxide-former
- not classified reprotoxic
Reference only. Solvents can be flammable, toxic, or peroxide-forming. Always consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and your lab's protocols before handling.
What Acetone mixes with
Miscible with: 1-Propanol, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,4-Dioxane, 2-Propanol, Acetic acid, Acetonitrile, Benzene, Carbon tetrachloride, Chloroform, Cyclohexane, Dichloromethane, Diethyl ether, Dimethyl sulfoxide, Ethanol, Ethyl acetate, Iso-octane, Methanol, Methyl ethyl ketone, Methyl isobutyl ketone, MTBE, n-Butanol, n-Butyl acetate, n-Heptane, n-Hexane, N-Methylpyrrolidone, n-Pentane, N,N-Dimethylacetamide, N,N-Dimethylformamide, Pyridine, tert-Butanol, Tetrahydrofuran, Toluene, Triethylamine, Water.
Check any specific pair on the interactive miscibility chart.
Using Acetone in HPLC/GC
Common HPLC/GC and general lab solvent. In HPLC used as a strong (high elution strength) reversed-phase organic modifier and a normal-phase/prep eluent, and widely as a wash/rinse/diluent solvent; its very high UV cutoff (~330 nm) makes it unsuitable for low-wavelength UV detection (better suited to MS, ELSD, or CAD detection). In GC it is a frequent injection/dilution solvent and headspace/residual-solvent analyte. Also a common cleaning solvent for glassware and instruments.
Its Snyder polarity index is 5.1 (selectivity group VIa), and its UV cutoff of 330 nm limits low-wavelength UV detection.See what the polarity index means and the full UV cutoff table.
Sources
- University of Toronto (TRACES) — Burdick & Jackson — Solvent UV cutoff table (absorbance = 1 AU, 1 cm cell)
- Stenutz / L. R. Snyder — Solvent polarity index (P′) and selectivity groups
- NIST — Chemistry WebBook — thermophysical properties (BP, density, refractive index)
- PubChem (NIH/NLM) — Compound property records (physical constants, CAS, formula)
- USP <467> / ICH Q3C — Residual Solvents — solvent classification (Class 1/2/3)
Values are compiled from public references and were last verified July 2026. See ourmethodologyfor how we source and verify. Always confirm critical values against primary references and the SDS.