Solvent · low polarity
Carbon tetrachloride CCl4
Also: CCl4
Historically a low-polarity normal-phase mobile-phase component and a transparent solvent for IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy (no C-H protons); occasional GC solvent. Now essentially obsolete in modern HPLC/GC labs due to high toxicity, carcinogenicity, and its ban as an ozone-depleting substance; retained only as a reference-data entry.
Compiled by Hemant RawatLast reviewed July 2026How we verify
Properties
- Formula
- CCl4
- CAS number
- 56-23-5
- UV cutoff
- 263 nm
- Snyder polarity index (P′)
- 1.6
- Selectivity group
- — (non-selective)
- Eluotropic strength ε° (silica)
- 0.11
- Boiling point
- 76.7 °C
- Viscosity (25 °C)
- 0.97 cP
- Refractive index (nD²⁰)
- 1.4601
- Density
- 1.594 g/mL
- Water miscibility
- immiscible
- USP <467> class
- Class 1
Safety
- carcinogen (IARC Group 2B)
- hepatotoxic / target-organ toxicant (liver, kidney)
- acutely toxic (oral/inhalation/dermal)
- reprotoxic (suspected)
- CNS depressant
- ozone-depleting substance (Montreal Protocol, banned/phased out)
- non-flammable
- environmental hazard
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 Carbon tetrachloride mixes with
Miscible with: 1-Propanol, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,4-Dioxane, 2-Propanol, Acetic acid, Acetone, Benzene, Chloroform, Cyclohexane, Dichloromethane, Diethyl ether, 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.
Partially miscible with: Acetonitrile, Dimethyl sulfoxide — mix only over a limited range.
Immiscible with: Water — these form two layers.
Check any specific pair on the interactive miscibility chart.
Using Carbon tetrachloride in HPLC/GC
Historically a low-polarity normal-phase mobile-phase component and a transparent solvent for IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy (no C-H protons); occasional GC solvent. Now essentially obsolete in modern HPLC/GC labs due to high toxicity, carcinogenicity, and its ban as an ozone-depleting substance; retained only as a reference-data entry.
Its Snyder polarity index is 1.6, and its UV cutoff of 263 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 low polarity solvents to compare with Carbon tetrachloride.