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.
Related solvents
Other selectivity group VIa to compare with n-Butyl acetate.