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Acetone

Acetone, also known as propanone, holds a prominent position as one of the most extensively used solvents worldwide, owing to its exceptional combination of strong solvency and rapid evaporation rate. It can be found in numerous everyday products, including paints, cleaning solutions, nail polish removers, and adhesives. Acetone, chemically represented as (CH3)2CO, stands as the simplest and smallest ketone. This colorless, highly volatile, and flammable liquid exhibits a distinct pungent aroma. It is miscible with water and plays a crucial role as a significant organic solvent across various industrial, household, and laboratory applications. Acetone is commonly encountered in a wide array of products such as acetylene, adhesives, cleaning agents, extraction solvents, gel coats, ink solvents, lacquer thinners, nail polish, pharmaceuticals, polyurethane foam, PVC cement, sealants, solvents, and varnishes.

Synonyms
Dimethylketone, 2 - Propanone, Acetone, Dimethyl Ketone, DMK
Chemical Formula
C3H6O
CAS Number
67-64-1

Characteristics

Molar Weight
58.08 g/mol
Melting Point
-93.9°C
Boiling Point
56.1°C
Flash Point
-20.0°C
Density
0.785 g/cc
Forms
Liquid (clear)

Uses and Applications

Key applications

  • Ink, toner and colourant
  • Adhesives and Sealants
  • Solvents
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Household industrial
  • Personal care

General information about Acetone

Acetone is a solvent that is also known as propanone or dimethyl ketone. It belongs to the class of ketones.

The substance occurs naturally in the human body, where it is formed in the liver. As it cannot be metabolised, it is exhaled via the lungs or released via the urine, especially in diabetes mellitus.

Properties of acetone

Acetone is a colourless liquid with a sweet odour, which is mainly used as a solvent and as a starting material for many syntheses in organic chemistry.

The carbonyl or keto group with two methyl groups is the simplest ketone. Due to keto-enol tautomerism, acetone can react both in an alkaline and acidic way, as it can absorb and release protons. This enables so-called aldol reactions, which can be catalysed by both bases and acids. Due to its polar carbonyl group, acetone can also form complex compounds with cations.

Acetone dissolves well in water, alcohol, benzene and diethyl ether as well as many organic solvents. It is highly flammable and forms an explosive mixture with air. Acetone is a volatile substance, which means that it evaporates quickly at room temperature.

Acetone forms azeotropic boiling mixtures with some other solvents, so the vapour phase has the same composition as the liquid phase. The electrical conductivity is rather low.

Today, acetone is mainly produced using the cumene hydroperoxide process, also known as phenol synthesis according to Hock. In this process, benzene and propene are converted into isopropylbenzene (cumene) by Friedel-Crafts alcylation in acid. This then reacts with oxygen in a radical reaction to form hydroperoxide, which decomposes into phenol and acetone when strong acids are added.

Another manufacturing process is the dehydrogenation or oxyhydrogenation of isopropanol.

Acetone in the chemical industry

Acetone is used in the chemical industry as a starting material for numerous syntheses. For example, acetone is an important intermediate for the production of chloroform and bromoacetone (tear gas). The most important product created from acetone is polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), colloquially known as acrylic glass or Plexiglas. Acetone is also a raw material for plastics and medicines.

Acetone is also used to produce methyl methacrylate and bisphenol A, both of which are required for the production of widely used plastics.

Acetone is also used to produce diacetone alcohol, a solvent for dyes, and is therefore also indirectly involved in the production of mesityl oxide and methyl isobutyl ketone.

Acetone in medicine

In medicine, acetone is used for disinfection. In dentistry, solutions containing acetone are used to clean prepared dentine surfaces and root canals as well as dental prostheses.

Acetone in agriculture

In agriculture, acetone is used for the production of pesticides. It serves as a carrier for active substances such as herbicides or insecticides.

Acetone in the food industry

Acetone dissolves flavourings from plants and thus enables the production of natural flavourings in the food industry.

Other areas of application for acetone

Acetone is mainly used as a solvent. It dissolves many organic compounds such as fats, oils, resins, paints and adhesives. In industry, it is used in the production of plastics, paints, varnishes, adhesives and cellulose nitrate ("gun cotton").

Together with hydrogen peroxide, acetone is one of the basic chemicals in the explosive acetone peroxide (TATP).

To ensure more effective combustion of the fuel, acetone is added to petrol or diesel in very small proportions (1:2000 to 1:5000) in some countries.

In photochemical PCB production, acetone is used for the final degreasing of the PCB before soldering. In the laboratory, the substance is used as a solvent for cleaning equipment and carrying out experiments.

In the textile industry, for example, acetone removes grease stains and other soiling from clothing.