Solvent · polar aprotic
Tetrahydrofuran C4H8O
Also: THF
Versatile mid-polarity aprotic solvent bridging polar and nonpolar analytes. Common HPLC organic modifier in reversed-phase ternary mobile phases (e.g., MeOH/THF/water) to alter selectivity vs acetonitrile/methanol; also a strong normal-phase eluent. Dominant mobile phase for non-aqueous GPC/SEC of polymers (polystyrene standards). GC use limited (peroxide/UV background); used as sample diluent and extraction solvent. HPLC-grade must be fresh and BHT-stabilization considered to avoid peroxide-driven UV baseline rise.
Compiled by Hemant RawatLast reviewed July 2026How we verify
Properties
- Formula
- C4H8O
- CAS number
- 109-99-9
- UV cutoff
- 212 nm
- Snyder polarity index (P′)
- 4
- Selectivity group
- III
- Eluotropic strength ε° (silica)
- 0.53
- Boiling point
- 66 °C
- Viscosity (25 °C)
- 0.48 cP
- Refractive index (nD²⁰)
- 1.4072
- Density
- 0.889 g/mL
- Water miscibility
- miscible
- USP <467> class
- Class 2
Safety
- highly flammable
- peroxide-former (forms explosive peroxides on air/light exposure)
- suspected carcinogen (GHS H351; non-genotoxic rodent carcinogen)
- eye/respiratory irritant (H319/H335)
- specific target organ toxicity (H371/H372)
- hygroscopic / air- and light-sensitive
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 Tetrahydrofuran 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-Butyl acetate, n-Heptane, n-Hexane, N-Methylpyrrolidone, n-Pentane, N,N-Dimethylacetamide, N,N-Dimethylformamide, Pyridine, tert-Butanol, Toluene, Triethylamine, Water.
Check any specific pair on the interactive miscibility chart.
Using Tetrahydrofuran in HPLC/GC
Versatile mid-polarity aprotic solvent bridging polar and nonpolar analytes. Common HPLC organic modifier in reversed-phase ternary mobile phases (e.g., MeOH/THF/water) to alter selectivity vs acetonitrile/methanol; also a strong normal-phase eluent. Dominant mobile phase for non-aqueous GPC/SEC of polymers (polystyrene standards). GC use limited (peroxide/UV background); used as sample diluent and extraction solvent. HPLC-grade must be fresh and BHT-stabilization considered to avoid peroxide-driven UV baseline rise.
Its Snyder polarity index is 4 (selectivity group III), and its UV cutoff of 212 nm is low enough for most 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 III to compare with Tetrahydrofuran.