Butan-2-one

An unsymmetrical ketone whose reduction creates a stereogenic centre.

Formula
C4H8O
Functional group
Ketones; Methyl ketones
Molar mass
72.11 g/mol
Also known as
2-Butanone, METHYL ETHYL KETONE, Butanone, Ethyl methyl ketone, Methylethyl ketone, Meetco

Overview

An unsymmetrical ketone whose reduction creates a stereogenic centre.

The carbonyl carbon carries methyl and ethyl groups. Reduction gives butan-2-ol, whose hydroxyl-bearing carbon has four different substituents. Attack on either face of the planar ketone can produce opposite configurations when the reaction environment is achiral.

Identifiers

Formula
C4H8O
Functional group
Ketones; Methyl ketones
Molar mass
72.11 g/mol
Also known as
2-Butanone, METHYL ETHYL KETONE, Butanone, Ethyl methyl ketone, Methylethyl ketone, Meetco
Chemical identifiers
SMILES
CCC(=O)C
InChI
InChI=1S/C4H8O/c1-3-4(2)5/h3H2,1-2H3
PubChem CID
6569

Properties

Melting Point
-86.67 °C
Boiling Point
79.59 °C
Relative density (water = 1)
Relative density (water = 1): 0.8
Water solubility
In water, 2.23X10+5 mg/L at 25 °C

Related compounds

  • Ketones

    An unsymmetrical ketone whose reduction creates a stereogenic centre.

  • Methyl ketones

    An unsymmetrical ketone whose reduction creates a stereogenic centre.

References

  1. PubChem Compound Summary: Butan-2-one (CID 6569)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  2. OpenStax Organic Chemistry: Nucleophilic addition of hydride and Grignard reagents: alcohol formationJohn McMurry · OpenStax · 2023

    Supports the qualitative structural interpretation of the recorded molecular structure; no new physical measurement or verified preparative yield is claimed.

  3. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Butan-2-one — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6569#section=Melting-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Haynes, W.M. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 95th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2014-2015, p. 3-78

  4. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Butan-2-one — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6569#section=Boiling-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Haynes, W.M. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 95th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2014-2015, p. 3-78

  5. ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs): Butan-2-one — densityILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6569#section=Density. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred.

  6. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Butan-2-one — solubilityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6569#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Taft RW et al; Nature 313: 384-6 (1985)