Propanone
The simplest ketone, connecting carbonyl addition with secondary-alcohol formation.
- Formula
- C3H6O
- Functional group
- Ketones; Methyl ketones
- Molar mass
- 58.08 g/mol
- Also known as
- propan-2-one, acetone, 2-propanone, Dimethyl ketone, Pyroacetic ether, Methyl ketone
Overview
The simplest ketone, connecting carbonyl addition with secondary-alcohol formation.
Its carbonyl carbon is bonded to two methyl groups. Reduction converts the carbonyl into the secondary alcohol propan-2-ol without extending the carbon chain. The polar C=O bond explains nucleophilic attack at carbon; a carbonyl absorption alone does not uniquely identify propanone.
Identifiers
- Formula
- C3H6O
- Functional group
- Ketones; Methyl ketones
- Molar mass
- 58.08 g/mol
- Also known as
- propan-2-one, acetone, 2-propanone, Dimethyl ketone, Pyroacetic ether, Methyl ketone
Chemical identifiers
- SMILES
- CC(=O)C
- InChI
- InChI=1S/C3H6O/c1-3(2)4/h1-2H3
- PubChem CID
- 180
Properties
- Melting Point
- -94.9 °C
- Boiling Point
- 56.08 °C
- Density
- 0.7845 g/cu cm at 20 °C
- Water solubility
- Miscible with water
Diagnostic tests
Brady’s carbonyl test
- Reagent
- prepared 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine reagent
- Conditions
- Small-scale comparison using the source method; allow time for precipitation.
- Positive observation
- Yellow precipitate develops; propanone can respond more slowly than ethanal.
- Negative observation
- No precipitate in a valid reagent blank.
- Interpretation
- Hydrazone formation supports a reactive aldehyde or ketone carbonyl.
- Scope
- Expected positive for propanone.
- Limitations
- Observe the prepared reagent response; handle and dispose of residues by the laboratory method.
- Evidence
- reference experiment
Related compounds
- Ketones
The simplest ketone, connecting carbonyl addition with secondary-alcohol formation.
- Methyl ketones
The simplest ketone, connecting carbonyl addition with secondary-alcohol formation.
Connected reactions
- Oxidation: Propan-2-ol → Propanone
Propan-2-ol is oxidised to propanone.
- Reduction: Propanone → Propan-2-ol
Propanone is reduced to propan-2-ol.
References
- PubChem Compound Summary: Propanone (CID 180)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem
Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.
- 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.
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Propanone — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/180#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. 3-4
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Propanone — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/180#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. 3-4
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Propanone — densityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/180#section=Density. 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. 3-4
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Propanone — solubilityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/180#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013., p. 13
- Brady’s test for aldehydes and ketonesRoyal Society of Chemistry · RSC Education
Source-supported qualitative reference observations.