Acetone

Acetone (dimethylketone, systematic name: propanon) — the simplest representative of ketones.
Formula: CH3 - C(O) - CH3. Colourless easily mobile flying liquid with a characteristic smell. Completely mixes up with water and the majority of organic solvents.

Acetone well dissolves many organic substances (cellulose acetate and nitrocellulose, wax, rubber, etc. ), and also a number of salts (calcium chloride, potassium iodide). Is one of the metabolites made by a human body.

Application:

- Acetone is applied as raw materials to synthesis of many important chemical products, such as acetic anhydride, keten, mezitit diacetone alcohol, an oxide, methyl - isobutyl ketone, methylmethacrylate, difenilpropan, izoforon, diphenol A, etc. ; example:
(CH3)2CO + 2 C6H5OH → (CH3)2C(C6H4OH)2 + H2O.
The last is widely applied at synthesis of polycarbonates, polyurethane and epoxies.
- Acetone is also the popular solvent considerably surpassing gasoline, turpentine and partly kerosene in respect of safety. In particular as solvent is used it:

• in production of varnishes;
• in production of explosives;
• in production of medicines;
• as a part of glue for films as solvent of acetate of cellulose and celluloid;
• component for cleaning of surfaces in various productions;
• as a cleaner of the tool and surfaces from polyurethane foam — in aerosol cans.

Without acetone it is impossible to store in compact (liquefied and in a cylinder) a state acetylene which under pressure is purely extremely explosive (can blow up even from concussion). For this purpose use the containers with porous material impregnated with acetone. 1 liter of acetone dissolves up to 250 liters of acetylene.