Acetone (C₃H₆O) — Properties, Uses & Safety

Overview

Acetone (CH3COCH3), systematically named propan-2-one, is the simplest ketone and one of the most widely used organic solvents in the world. With a molar mass of 58.08 g/mol, acetone is a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid with a distinctive sweet, fruity odor that most people recognize from nail polish remover. Its molecular structure features a carbonyl group (C=O) flanked by two methyl groups, making it the textbook example of a ketone functional group. Acetone is an excellent solvent because it is miscible with water (due to hydrogen bonding between its carbonyl oxygen and water molecules) and also dissolves many nonpolar organic compounds. This dual solubility makes it invaluable in laboratories and industry for cleaning glassware, dissolving resins and plastics, and as a reaction medium. Industrially, acetone is produced primarily by the cumene process, which simultaneously produces phenol — an elegant example of industrial chemistry efficiency. It is also produced by the dehydrogenation of isopropanol. Global production exceeds 7 million tons per year. Common uses include nail polish remover, paint thinner and cleanup solvent, production of methyl methacrylate (for acrylic glass/Plexiglas), manufacture of bisphenol A (for polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins), pharmaceutical manufacturing, and as a chemical intermediate in organic synthesis. Interestingly, acetone is also produced naturally in the human body during fat metabolism (ketogenesis). Elevated levels of acetone in the blood and breath occur during fasting, low-carbohydrate diets, and uncontrolled diabetes — the fruity breath odor of diabetic ketoacidosis is largely due to acetone. Safety considerations include its high flammability (flash point -20 °C) and the fact that its vapors are heavier than air and can travel to ignition sources. Prolonged inhalation can cause headaches and dizziness. GHS pictograms include the flame and exclamation mark symbols. For chemistry students, acetone is an ideal compound for learning about the carbonyl group and ketone functional class, hydrogen bonding with water despite being an organic solvent, nucleophilic addition reactions (such as the aldol condensation), keto-enol tautomerism, and IR spectroscopy (the strong C=O stretch near 1715 cm⁻¹ is a signature peak). Its everyday presence in nail polish remover makes it instantly relatable to students.

IUPAC Name

propan-2-one

CAS Number

67-64-1

PubChem CID

180

Molecular Formula

C₃H₆O

Molar Mass

58.08 g/mol

State at STP

liquid

Appearance

Colorless, volatile liquid with fruity odor