Methyl Ethyl Ketone

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    78-93-3

    Molecular formula
    C4H8O

    SMILES
    CCC(=O)C

    Safety labels

    Flammable
    Flammable

    Irritant
    Irritant

    Retention indicies (RI)

    • DB5: 592.0
    • Carbowax: 899.8

  • Odor profile

    Ethereal 83.58%
    Fruity 76.55%
    Sweet 66.98%
    Solvent 60.38%
    Ketonic 60.21%
    Rummy 48.79%
    Pungent 44.22%
    Fermented 44.12%
    Sharp 38.68%
    Alcoholic 38.14%

    Scent© AI

    Odor threshold

    • Odor Threshold Low: 2.0 [mmHg]. Odor Threshold High: 85.0 [mmHg]. Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 16 ppm)
    • Odor low= 0.7375 mg/cu m; Odor high= 147.5 mg/cu m.
    • Detection limit in water: 5.00x10+1 ppm (purity not specified)
    • Recognition in air: 1.00x10+1 ppm (chemically pure)
    • Detection limit in air: 2.00x10+1 ppm (purity not specified)
    • The odor threshold in air is 5.4 ppm.

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    0.3

    pKa est.
    8.83 (weak base)

    Molecular weight
    72.11 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Ultra fast

    Melting point expt.

    • -123.3 °F (NTP, 1992)
    • -86.67 °C
    • -86.6 °C
    • -86 °C
    • -123 °F

    Boiling point

    • 175.3 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992)
    • 79.59 °C
    • 78.60 to 80.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
    • 80 °C
    • 175 °F

    Flash point est.
    -7.56 ˚C

    Flash point expt.

    • 26 °F (NTP, 1992)
    • 26 °F
    • 16 °F (-9 °C) (Closed cup)
    • -9 °C (closed cup)
    • -9 °C c.c.
    • 16 °F

    Solubility expt.

    • greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 66 °F (NTP, 1992)
    • Constant boiling mixture with water, BP 73.4 °C, contains 88.7% methyl ethyl ketone (MEK); Solubility of water in MEK is 12.5% at 25 °C
    • In water, 2.23X10+5 mg/L at 25 °C
    • In water, 3.13X10+5 mg/L at 10 °C; 2.11X10+5 mg/L at 25 °C; 1.6X10+5 mg/L at 90 °C
    • Soluble in benzene, alcohol, and ether; miscible with oils
    • Miscible with ethanol, ether, acetone, benzene, chloroform
    • 223.0 mg/mL
    • Solubility in water, g/100ml at 20 °C: 29 (good)
    • miscible with alcohol, ether, most fixed oils; 1 ml in 4 ml water
    • 28%

  • Synonyms

    • 2-Butanone
    • METHYL ETHYL KETONE
    • Butan-2-one
    • Butanone
    • 78-93-3
    • Ethyl methyl ketone
    • Methylethyl ketone
    • Meetco
    • Methyl acetone
    • Methylethylketone
    • 3-Butanone
    • Ethylmethylketon
    • ethylmethylketone
    • Aethylmethylketon
    • Butanone 2
    • Acetone, methyl-
    • Ethyl methyl cetone
    • Metiletilchetone
    • Metyloetyloketon
    • Ketone, ethyl methyl
    • MEK
    • ethylmethyl ketone
    • Metyl ethyl ketone
    • methylacetone
    • methyl(ethyl) ketone
    • Metiletilcetona
    • Oxobutane
    • RCRA waste number U159
    • Methylethylketon
    • Caswell No. 569
    • Ethylmethylcetone
    • 2-butanon
    • FEMA No. 2170
    • HSDB 99
    • CCRIS 2051
    • UNII-6PT9KLV9IO
    • 2-BUTANONE-D8
    • 6PT9KLV9IO
    • 2-Oxobutane
    • C2H5COCH3
    • methyl ethylketone
    • AI3-07540 (USDA)
    • EINECS 201-159-0
    • methyl ethyl cetone
    • MFCD00011648
    • EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 044103
    • ethyl(methyl) ketone
    • DTXSID3021516
    • CHEBI:28398
    • AI3-07540
    • 2-Butanone, HPLC Grade
    • DTXCID801516
    • EC 201-159-0
    • Butanone 2 [French]
    • METHYL ETHYL KETONE (II)
    • METHYL ETHYL KETONE [II]
    • Ethylmethylketon [Dutch]
    • METHYL ETHYL KETONE (MART.)
    • METHYL ETHYL KETONE [MART.]
    • Metiletilcetona [Spanish]
    • Metyloetyloketon [Polish]
    • Aethylmethylketon [German]
    • Ethylmethylcetone [French]
    • Metiletilchetone [Italian]
    • 2-Butanone, ACS reagent, >=99.0%
    • methyl-ethyl ketone
    • Ethyl methyl cetone [French]
    • Butanon, Ethylmethylketon, Methylethylketon, MEK
    • UN1193
    • methyl ethyl ketone (mek)
    • RCRA waste no. U159
    • n-butanone
    • 2-butanal
    • ethyl methylketone
    • ethylmathyl ketone
    • methyl-ethylketone
    • methylethyl-ketone
    • butane-2-one
    • 2 -butanone
    • 2- butanone
    • butan-3-one
    • methyl etyl ketone
    • ethyl-methyl ketone
    • methyl-ethyl-ketone
    • Ethyl, methyl ketone
    • Ketone, methyl ethyl
    • Caswell No 569
    • 2-Butanone, ACS grade
    • 2-BUTANONE [FCC]
    • 2-BUTANONE [FHFI]
    • Pesticide Code: 044103
    • ghl.PD_Mitscher_leg0.417
    • CHEMBL15849
    • 2-Butanone, analytical standard
    • 2-Butanone, LR, >=99%
    • METHYL ETHYL KETONE [MI]
    • Methyl ethyl ketone, ACS reagent
    • METHYL ETHYL KETONE [HSDB]
    • 2-Butanone, AR, >=99.5%
    • APA82009
    • METHYL ETHYL KETONE [VANDF]
    • 2-Butanone, technical grade, 99%
    • Tox21_200041
    • LMFA12000043
    • STL146562
    • 2-Butanone, HPLC Grade, 99.5%
    • 2-Butanone, natural, >=99%, FG
    • METHYL ETHYL KETONE [USP-RS]
    • AKOS000118991
    • 2-Butanone, for HPLC, >=99.7%
    • UN 1193
    • 2-Butanone, ReagentPlus(R), >=99%
    • CAS-78-93-3
    • 2-Butanone, >=99.5%, FCC, FG
    • NCGC00090973-01
    • NCGC00090973-02
    • NCGC00257595-01
    • BP-30009
    • 2-Butanone 100 microg/mL in Acetonitrile
    • Ethyl methyl ketone or methyl ethyl ketone
    • 2-Butanone, SAJ first grade, >=99.0%
    • 2-Butanone, JIS special grade, >=99.0%
    • E0140
    • NS00003885
    • C02845
    • 2-Butanone, HPLC grade, for HPLC, >=99.5%
    • A839534
    • ETHYL METHYL KETONE (METHYL ETHYL KETONE)

  • Applications

    2-Butanone (Methyl Ethyl Ketone, MEK, CAS 78-93-3) is a fast-evaporating industrial solvent with excellent solvency, widely employed in automotive and metal coatings, wood finishes, printing inks, varnishes, shoe and furniture adhesives, vinyl resins, chloroprene rubber, as well as in vegetable-oil extraction, dewaxing of lubricating oils, cleaning of electronic components, surface preparation before soldering, processing of synthetic fibers, and the manufacture of photographic film and magnetic tapes; it also serves as an intermediate for pharmaceuticals, fragrances, pesticides, surfactants and gasoline additives, and is used as a diluent in natural-gas dehydration solutions, a regenerant for ion-exchange resins, and a viscosity modifier for inks, thanks to its rapid evaporation, high purity and low residue, though strict compliance with the OSHA TWA limit of 200 ppm, adequate ventilation and explosion-proof equipment is required because its vapors are highly flammable and prolonged inhalation can affect the central nervous system.

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 2563.32
    methanol 3601.79
    isopropanol 1932.32
    water 231.75
    ethyl acetate 697.52
    n-propanol 1618.25
    acetone 1289.2
    n-butanol 1337.38
    acetonitrile 1790.23
    DMF 1442.21
    toluene 203.6
    isobutanol 1136.94
    1,4-dioxane 983.74
    methyl acetate 980.57
    THF 993.75
    2-butanone 955.3
    n-pentanol 833.48
    sec-butanol 1417.77
    n-hexane 158.76
    ethylene glycol 757.82
    NMP 1004.11
    cyclohexane 88.83
    DMSO 795.0
    n-butyl acetate 247.76
    n-octanol 390.63
    chloroform 2039.56
    n-propyl acetate 296.2
    acetic acid 2237.27
    dichloromethane 1407.28
    cyclohexanone 676.88
    propylene glycol 971.92
    isopropyl acetate 341.03
    DMAc 1236.36
    2-ethoxyethanol 943.94
    isopentanol 908.46
    n-heptane 70.61
    ethyl formate 546.42
    1,2-dichloroethane 593.95
    n-hexanol 608.53
    2-methoxyethanol 1736.62
    isobutyl acetate 164.46
    tetrachloromethane 488.6
    n-pentyl acetate 278.65
    transcutol 1577.93
    n-heptanol 363.03
    ethylbenzene 133.44
    MIBK 275.31
    2-propoxyethanol 740.36
    tert-butanol 1559.97
    MTBE 662.3
    2-butoxyethanol 544.72
    propionic acid 1426.32
    o-xylene 164.79
    formic acid 1162.82
    diethyl ether 653.91
    m-xylene 131.29
    p-xylene 203.39
    chlorobenzene 326.11
    dimethyl carbonate 161.88
    n-octane 35.87
    formamide 1263.31
    cyclopentanone 865.62
    2-pentanone 595.32
    anisole 319.9
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 422.09
    gamma-butyrolactone 944.99
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 1119.55
    pyridine 885.79
    3-pentanone 409.48
    furfural 858.53
    n-dodecane 26.08
    diethylene glycol 660.14
    diisopropyl ether 141.47
    tert-amyl alcohol 1220.76
    acetylacetone 470.09
    n-hexadecane 27.11
    acetophenone 279.78
    methyl propionate 517.2
    isopentyl acetate 204.87
    trichloroethylene 1151.1
    n-nonanol 316.78
    cyclohexanol 721.49
    benzyl alcohol 418.21
    2-ethylhexanol 285.25
    isooctanol 262.14
    dipropyl ether 213.37
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 260.36
    ethyl lactate 211.83
    propylene carbonate 427.78
    n-methylformamide 1247.38
    2-pentanol 815.45
    n-pentane 148.44
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 487.29
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 215.77
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 367.7
    mesitylene 74.91
    ε-caprolactone 633.44
    p-cymene 76.73
    epichlorohydrin 849.4
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 818.75
    2-aminoethanol 1430.98
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 1026.45
    sulfolane 650.7
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 66.88
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 898.45
    n-hexyl acetate 399.51
    isooctane 32.3
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 555.13
    sec-butyl acetate 193.18
    tert-butyl acetate 260.31
    decalin 50.95
    glycerin 958.92
    diglyme 768.18
    acrylic acid 1177.92
    isopropyl myristate 122.02
    n-butyric acid 1249.31
    acetyl acetate 340.64
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 127.0
    ethyl propionate 260.34
    nitromethane 1996.31
    1,2-diethoxyethane 392.52
    benzonitrile 472.57
    trioctyl phosphate 94.53
    1-bromopropane 505.74
    gamma-valerolactone 1047.02
    n-decanol 204.37
    triethyl phosphate 88.15
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 347.24
    propionitrile 1004.65
    vinylene carbonate 412.47
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 933.57
    DMS 219.7
    cumene 100.91
    2-octanol 268.08
    2-hexanone 359.52
    octyl acetate 176.94
    limonene 121.78
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 867.36
    ethyl orthosilicate 93.41
    tributyl phosphate 115.4
    diacetone alcohol 474.29
    N,N-dimethylaniline 225.4
    acrylonitrile 1229.29
    aniline 510.04
    1,3-propanediol 1405.6
    bromobenzene 260.69
    dibromomethane 962.12
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 951.61
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 147.99
    tetrabutyl urea 138.14
    diisobutyl methanol 125.74
    2-phenylethanol 314.76
    styrene 186.0
    dioctyl adipate 161.3
    dimethyl sulfate 223.21
    ethyl butyrate 189.94
    methyl lactate 355.85
    butyl lactate 259.9
    diethyl carbonate 120.45
    propanediol butyl ether 559.53
    triethyl orthoformate 133.95
    p-tert-butyltoluene 74.66
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 226.01
    morpholine 1330.96
    tert-butylamine 959.21
    n-dodecanol 135.21
    dimethoxymethane 507.46
    ethylene carbonate 319.62
    cyrene 258.33
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 344.15
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 154.45
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 337.45
    4-methylpyridine 810.46
    dibutyl ether 262.24
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 125.74
    DEF 675.85
    dimethyl isosorbide 317.42
    tetrachloroethylene 770.77
    eugenol 265.65
    triacetin 297.1
    span 80 379.89
    1,4-butanediol 614.48
    1,1-dichloroethane 1013.32
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 655.77
    methyl formate 678.07
    2-methyl-1-butanol 972.75
    n-decane 49.39
    butyronitrile 918.47
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 293.21
    1-chlorooctane 164.8
    1-chlorotetradecane 56.5
    n-nonane 52.26
    undecane 33.88
    tert-butylcyclohexane 62.77
    cyclooctane 28.56
    cyclopentanol 907.7
    tetrahydropyran 781.18
    tert-amyl methyl ether 458.36
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 488.71
    1-hexene 392.35
    2-isopropoxyethanol 604.01
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 757.97
    methyl butyrate 376.88

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction

Botanical

Name CAS Botanical Proportion
Truffle, black (Perigord) Tuber melanosporum, fam. Ascomycetae 2.5%
Apple flower Malus arnoldiana (Rehd) Sarg. var. Redgold, fam. Rosaceae 0.01%
Marigold pot 1 70892-20-5 Calendula officinalis L. (Pot Marigold), fam. Asteraceae (Compositae) 0.01%
Marigold pot 2 70892-20-5 Calendula officinalis L. (Pot Marigold), fam. Asteraceae (Compositae) 0.2%
Ambrette seed (China) 8015-62-1 Hibiscus abelmoschus L. (Abelmoschus moschatus Moench), fam. Malvaceae 0.02%
Santolina chamaecyparisus (Egypt) 84961-58-0 Santolina chamaecyparisus L., fam. Asteraceae (Compositae) 0.01%
Thyme 5 8007-46-3 Thymus vulgaris L., fam. Lamiaceae (Labiatae) 0.01%
Ageratum conyzoides (Ghana) 85480-32-6 Ageratum conyzoides L., fam. Asteraceae (Compositae) 0.01%
Truffle, white (Italy) Tuber magnatum Pico, fam. Ascomycetae 5.0%
Cyphomandra betacea fruit Cyphomandra betacea Sendtn., fam. Solanaceae (tree tomato, tamarillo) 0.01%
Pineapple pulp Ananas comosus (L.) Merr., fam. Bromeliaceae 0.81%