Solvent · low polarity
n-Butyl acetate C6H12O2
Rarely a mobile-phase solvent in HPLC (UV cutoff 254 nm limits low-UV detection); used mainly as a medium-polarity ester eluent in normal-phase/TLC work and as a GC solvent and calibration/reference analyte. A common industrial coatings/lacquer solvent; in analytical labs used for extractions and as a moderately nonpolar diluent miscible with most organics but essentially immiscible with water.
Compiled by Hemant RawatLast reviewed July 2026How we verify
Properties
- Formula
- C6H12O2
- CAS number
- 123-86-4
- UV cutoff
- 254 nm
- Snyder polarity index (P′)
- 4
- Selectivity group
- VIa
- Eluotropic strength ε° (silica)
- —
- Boiling point
- 126 °C
- Viscosity (25 °C)
- 0.685 cP
- Refractive index (nD²⁰)
- 1.3941
- Density
- 0.8825 g/mL
- Water miscibility
- immiscible
- USP <467> class
- not classified
Safety
- flammable (H226, flash point ~22-27 C)
- eye/skin/respiratory irritant (H319/H335)
- narcotic effects - drowsiness/dizziness (H336)
- not a listed carcinogen or reprotoxic
- not a peroxide-former
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 n-Butyl acetate mixes with
Miscible with: 1-Propanol, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,4-Dioxane, 2-Propanol, Acetic acid, Acetone, 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-Heptane, n-Hexane, N-Methylpyrrolidone, n-Pentane, N,N-Dimethylacetamide, N,N-Dimethylformamide, Pyridine, tert-Butanol, Tetrahydrofuran, Toluene, Triethylamine.
Immiscible with: Water — these form two layers.
Check any specific pair on the interactive miscibility chart.
Using n-Butyl acetate in HPLC/GC
Rarely a mobile-phase solvent in HPLC (UV cutoff 254 nm limits low-UV detection); used mainly as a medium-polarity ester eluent in normal-phase/TLC work and as a GC solvent and calibration/reference analyte. A common industrial coatings/lacquer solvent; in analytical labs used for extractions and as a moderately nonpolar diluent miscible with most organics but essentially immiscible with water.
Its Snyder polarity index is 4 (selectivity group VIa), and its UV cutoff of 254 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.