Acetone: Overview
Description
Acetone is used as a solvent for fats, oils, waxes, resins, rubber, plastics, lacquers, varnishes and rubber cements. It is used to make many chemical compounds, rayon, photographic films, plastics, fibres, drugs and other chemicals, for storing acetylene gas, and is present in paint and varnish removers, purifying paraffin and for hardening and dehydrating tissues.
Substance details
Substance name: Acetone
CASR number: 67-64-1
Molecular formula: C3H6O
Synonyms: Dimethyl ketone, methyl ketone, 2-propanone, b-ketopropanone, dimethylformaldehyde, pyroacetic ether.
Physical properties
Acetone is a colourless liquid with a distinct odour. It is highly flammable. Acetone is used to dissolve other chemical substances and mixes readily with water, alcohol, dimethylformamide, chloroform, ether and most oils. Acetone is considered a volatile organic compound by the National Pollutant Inventory.
Specific Gravity: 0.786
Melting Point: -94°C
Boiling Point: 56.5°C
Relative vapour density: 0.788
Flash point: -18°C
Chemical properties
Acetone can polymerise rapidly due to heating and under the influence of air, light and on contact with a catalyst, strong oxidisers and metals such as copper and aluminium, with fire or explosion hazard. As a gas mixed with air, acetone is a fire and explosion hazard. On standing, acetone can form peroxides which may then explode. Acetone will react with iron and steel in the presence of moisture. Acetone is capable of dissolving plastic glasses frames, jewellery, pens and pencils, rayon stockings and other rayon garments.
Further information
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) holds data for all sources of acetone emissions in Australia.
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