Solvent · low polarity
1,2-Dichloroethane C2H4Cl2
Also: EDC, DCE
Moderately polar mid-strength solvent. Historically a normal-phase HPLC and IR/GC solvent and an extraction solvent; now largely avoided in routine HPLC/GC because it is an ICH Q3C / USP <467> Class 1 carcinogen (limited to 5 ppm in drug products). UV-transparent to ~225-228 nm. Occasionally used to dissolve nonpolar/moderately polar analytes, polymers, fats and resins for GC injection or sample prep where its solvency is needed.
Compiled by Hemant RawatLast reviewed July 2026How we verify
Properties
- Formula
- C2H4Cl2
- CAS number
- 107-06-2
- UV cutoff
- 228 nm
- Snyder polarity index (P′)
- 3.5
- Selectivity group
- V
- Eluotropic strength ε° (silica)
- 0.3
- Boiling point
- 83.5 °C
- Viscosity (25 °C)
- 0.79 cP
- Refractive index (nD²⁰)
- 1.4448
- Density
- 1.2531 g/mL
- Water miscibility
- immiscible
- USP <467> class
- Class 1
Safety
- highly flammable (flash point ~13 C)
- carcinogen (IARC Group 2B; ICH Q3C Class 1)
- mutagenic/genotoxic
- acutely toxic (harmful if inhaled/swallowed)
- irritant (skin/eyes/respiratory)
- environmental/aquatic 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 1,2-Dichloroethane mixes with
Miscible with: 1-Propanol, 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-Butyl acetate, 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 1,2-Dichloroethane in HPLC/GC
Moderately polar mid-strength solvent. Historically a normal-phase HPLC and IR/GC solvent and an extraction solvent; now largely avoided in routine HPLC/GC because it is an ICH Q3C / USP <467> Class 1 carcinogen (limited to 5 ppm in drug products). UV-transparent to ~225-228 nm. Occasionally used to dissolve nonpolar/moderately polar analytes, polymers, fats and resins for GC injection or sample prep where its solvency is needed.
Its Snyder polarity index is 3.5 (selectivity group V), and its UV cutoff of 228 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.