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.
Related solvents
Other selectivity group VIa to compare with Acetone.