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.