Acetone is an organic compound and is a colorless liquid whose other name (IUPAC name) is Propanone. It is used in the production of plastics and other industrial products. Acetone formula (or Propanone) is given here both in organic form and in structural form, Acetone is the smallest and the simplest Ketone which is a flammable, colorless, and volatile liquid.

In this article, we will learn about, Acetone Formula, Acetone Structure, Acetone Preparation, Acetone Properties, and others in detail.

What is Acetone?

Acetone is an organic compound that is highly flammable and solvent that is used to dissolve various substances. It is an organic compound with formula C₃H₆O. The other name of Acetone is Propanone. It is found in human body in its Urine and Blood.

Acetone is colourless and volatile liquid that is miscible in water, ether, and other liquids. It has a pungent smell and is used as an antiseptic and solvent.

Acetone Formula

Chemical formula of Acetone is C₃H₆O which is also known as propanone. Acetone is found in the exhaust from vehicles, plants, trees, and forest fires.

It is also found in the urine and blood of the human body. Acetone is miscible in water, ether, ethanol and has a pungent, floral, or irritating smell. It is highly used as an antiseptic and solvent. Alchemists were the first to produce acetone and It is produced with the dry distillation of metal acetates. It is produced by propylene either by the direct or indirect method or we can say almost 83% of acetone is produced during the cumene process.

Acetone Structure

The chemical formula of Acetone consists of three carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom. It is considered as a ketone since there is a carbonyl group present in it. It is mainly used in medicine and in cosmetics. Acetone is mainly present in blood and urine. It is also an active ingredient in nail polish removers.

Acetone Chemical Formula = C₃H₆O

Acetone Preparation

Acetone is industrially produced by the Cumene process. In this process, benzene is alkylated with propylene to produce Cumene, which is oxidized by air to produce phenol and acetone. The chemical reaction for the same is added below,

Other method to prepare acetone is by Hydration of Isopropyl Alcohol in presence of copper catalyst.

Occurrence of Acetone

Acetone C₃H₆O naturally occurs in plants, trees, volcanic gases, forest fires, and as a product of the breakdown of body fat. It is also found in urine and blood, while the concentration may be higher in diabetic patients. We can find traces of it in vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke, and landfill sites. It is also found among the many products formed in the destructive distillation of materials like wood, sugar, cellulose, etc.

Physical Properties of Acetone

The physical properties of Acetone are added in the table below,

Chemical Properties Of Acetone

Various chemical properties of the acetone are added below,

• Acetone is a high level of miscibility in water, ethanol, ether, and methanol.
• It is also colorless at room temperature and very sensitive to heat, so acetone evaporates quickly when it is in contact with air or sunlight if not stored properly.
• Another property of acetone is that it is a very effective solvent for diluting a wide variety of dense chemicals. As it is highly volatile therefore it should be kept away from fire and high temperatures to reduce the potential for hazards.
• Acetone is completely stable in the environment. And its chemical properties change markedly when mixed with water, which can cause sudden explosions when stored in airtight containers for a long time due to the accumulation of gases.

Chemical Reactions of Acetone

Acetone undergoes various chemical reactions, some of them are mentioned below:

• Keto/enol Tautomerism
• Haloform Reaction

Keto/enol Tautomerism

Keto/enol Tautomerism is a type of isomerism shown by acetone that include conversion of keto form of Acetone to Enol form. The same is shown in the image added below,

Haloform Reaction

Acetone is an organic compound and it undergoes haloform reaction in presence of CH3-C=O group, acetone undergoes reaction and it reacts with halogen in presence of alkali to form halofrom and acid salt.

CH₃-C=O-CH₃(Acetone) → CH₃COONa + CHI₃(Idoform)

Uses of Acetone (C₃H₆O)

Various uses of Acetone are,

• Acetone is uses as solvent for plastics and synthetic fibers.
• Acetone is applied to metals to prepare them for panting.
• It is used as Drying Agent.
• Acetone is used as medical treatment of Acne.
• It is used in cosmetic to remove nail polish, etc.

Health Hazards of Acetone(C₃H₆O)

Acetone has various health hazards that are,

• It is highly inflammable and also have low chronic toxicity. if inhaled it causes cough and sore throat.
• It causes headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and other medical conditions if consumed.
• It also causes, irritation in eye, skin and lungs if inhaled in its vapor form.

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FAQs-Acetone

1. What is Acetone?

Acetone is an organic compound with chemical formula CH₃-C=O-CH₃ and its IUPAC name is Propanone.

2. What are Uses of Acetone?

Acetone is highly used as an industrial solvent. Acetone also serves as a precursor to methyl methacrylate. It is a powerful solvent that is used as nail polish remover. Acetone is also effective for oil removal and preparing nail polish.

3. What are Harmful Effect of Acetone?

Intake of acetone from moderate to high amounts of acetone for a short amount of time can irritate your nose, throat, lungs and eyes and also cause headaches, a faster pulse. some other causes are nausea, effects on the blood, passing out and possible coma, and a shorter menstrual cycle in women.

4. What is Chemical Name and Formula of Acetone?

Chemical formula of Acetone is C₃H₆O which is also known as propanone. It naturally occurs in plants, trees, volcanic gases, forest fires.

5. What are Advantages and Disadvantages of Acetone?

Advantages of acetone are,

• Acetone is green biodegradable solvent.
• It has the ability to recycle by evaporation.
• It has higher extraction efficiency for Xanthophylls.

Disadvantages of acetone are,

• It is a highly flammable
• It has very adverse effects on human health

6. Is Acetone used as Nail Polish Remover?

Yes, Acetone is used as nail polish remover as is a powerful solvent, that can also used as to remove oil and other stains.

7. What is Acetone used for?

Acetone is used as solvent for various solutions. It is used as dry agent and in manufacturing of various synthetic fibers and plastics.

8. Is Acetone Harmful to Humans?

Yes, Acetone is harmful to humans and its health hazard are added above in the article.