Acetone is the simplest and most important of the ketones. It is a colourless liquid with a mildly pungent and somewhat aromatic odour. It is primarily used as a chemical intermediate and as a solvent for celluloseacetate and nitro-cellulose. It is used as a carrier for acetylene, and as a raw material for the chemical synthesis of a wide range of products such as ketene, methyl methacrylate, bisphenol A, diacetone alcohol, mesityl oxide, methyl isobutyl ketone, hexylene glycol, and isophorone.
Acetone is a mobile, flammable liquid that is miscible in all proportions with water and with organic solvents such as ether, methanol, ethyl alcohol, and esters. It is incompatible and reactive with oxidisers and acids. Containers of acetone may explode in a fire, producing poisonous gases. Acetone fires may be controlled with carbon dioxide or dry chemical extinguishers.
Acetone undergoes many condensation reactions; in the presence of an amine, or ammonia, various esters condense readily with acetone. Acetone is also known commercially as dimethyl ketone, methyl ketone, dimethylformaldehyde, ketone propane, and 2-propanone.
Acetone is formed in the humanblood when the body uses fat instead of glucose for energy. If
acetone forms, it usually means that the cells do not have enough insulin, or cannot use the insulin that is in the blood, to use glucose for energy. Acetone passes through the body into the urine. Someone with a lot of acetone in the body can have breath that smells fruity and is called '
acetone breath'.
Acetone is used in painting and decorating for scrubbing the surface of certain woods, such as cedar and teak, prior to painting them. Research Acetone
Abbreviations
SciTech
Research Acetone