Acetone (C₃H₆O), also known as 2-propanone or dimethyl ketone, is the simplest and most widely used ketone in industrial and laboratory settings. It is a colorless, highly volatile liquid recognized by its characteristic sweet, fruity odor and remarkable ability to dissolve a broad spectrum of organic materials. From paint formulation and pharmaceutical synthesis to semiconductor fabrication and everyday nail care products, acetone occupies a position of unusual breadth across industrial, scientific, and consumer markets.

What makes acetone particularly valuable is the combination of properties it brings to solvent applications: complete miscibility with water, extremely rapid evaporation, low viscosity, and compatibility with most organic solvents. Its ability to dissolve fats, oils, waxes, resins, cellulose derivatives, and many synthetic polymers makes it one of the most versatile solvents available at industrial scale.

Acetone also occurs naturally in the human body as a byproduct of fat metabolism, contributing to a relatively favorable toxicological profile compared to many other organic solvents. Despite this, it is a highly flammable liquid with a flash point of −20°C, and its handling requires careful attention to ignition control, ventilation, and containment. It is classified under DOT Hazard Class 3 and regulated as a CERCLA hazardous substance, making regulatory compliance an essential part of procurement and operations for any facility using it at significant volume.

• Compound Name: Acetone

• Synonyms/Common Names: 2-Propanone, Dimethyl ketone, Propan-2-one, Beta-ketopropane, Dimethyl formaldehyde, Pyroacetic ether, Methyl ketone

• Chemical Formula: C₃H₆O (CH₃COCH₃)

• CAS Number: 67-64-1

• RTECS Number: AL3150000

• Molar Mass: 58.08 g/mol

• Appearance: Clear, colorless, volatile liquid with a characteristic sweet, pungent odor

Acetone has a density of 0.784–0.791 g/cm³ at 20°C, giving it a specific gravity of approximately 0.79. It is lighter than water but completely miscible with it, so layering does not occur under normal handling conditions. The lower density is relevant primarily when estimating container weights and modeling spill behavior in containment scenarios.

Acetone is a colorless, fast-evaporating organic solvent widely used in laboratory research, chemical manufacturing, pharmaceutical processing, coatings production, electronics cleaning, and industrial degreasing applications. The compound is valued for its excellent solvency, rapid drying characteristics, and ability to dissolve a wide range of organic substances across commercial, industrial, and laboratory environments. U.S. laboratories and manufacturers sourcing acetone by grade and purity can contact Lab Alley at 512-668-9918 for product selection and ordering support.

Acetone boils at 56°C (133°F) at 760 mmHg and melts at −95°C (−139°F). The low boiling point means acetone evaporates rapidly at room temperature, which is advantageous in cleaning and drying applications but also means vapor generation is continuous and substantial in open containers. Facilities using acetone at volume must account for vapor accumulation in confined or poorly ventilated spaces.

Acetone is completely miscible with water, ethanol, diethyl ether, chloroform, and most common organic solvents, and it dissolves fats, oils, waxes, resins, and many plastics and synthetic fibers. This broad solvency also has a practical limitation: acetone attacks certain plastics, rubber, and coatings, so container and equipment material compatibility must be verified before use.

Pure acetone and its aqueous solutions are essentially neutral, with a pH of approximately 6–7. It does not undergo hydrolysis or ionization under normal conditions, does not contribute to corrosion of compatible metals, and does not require neutralization before disposal under most standard protocols.

At 25°C, acetone has a viscosity of 0.306 mPa·s, making it one of the lowest-viscosity common solvents in laboratory and industrial use. This allows it to penetrate fine surface features and narrow gaps rapidly, which is valuable in precision cleaning applications. The same property increases the likelihood of rapid spill spread, reinforcing the need for proper secondary containment.

Acetone has a refractive index of 1.359 at 20°C, used in spectroscopic applications to verify purity and as a quality control parameter for HPLC and spectrophotometric grades. Significant deviation from this value in an incoming lot is a reliable indicator of contamination and should trigger additional QC testing before use.

Acetone has a vapor pressure of 184 mmHg at 20°C, rising to 266 mmHg at 30°C, which is substantially higher than that of most common solvents. The high vapor pressure drives the rapid evaporation useful in drying and rinsing applications, but vapor concentrations in enclosed spaces can reach hazardous levels quickly, making continuous airflow and engineering controls necessary at volume.

The odor threshold for acetone is 100–140 ppm in air, well below both the NIOSH REL of 250 ppm and the OSHA PEL of 1,000 ppm. A detectable odor does not indicate unsafe exposure levels, but it should prompt verification that ventilation and engineering controls are functioning correctly.

Acetone is stable under normal storage conditions and does not polymerize, but it is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, halogens, strong acids, and strong bases. It reacts violently with chloroform in the presence of alkali and forms explosive acetone peroxides with hydrogen peroxide. These incompatible substances must be excluded from storage and use areas without exception.

Acetone from Lab Alley is available in multiple grades and purity levels, with packaging options ranging from small laboratory containers to bulk drums and totes for laboratory, industrial, manufacturing, and chemical processing applications.