3-Pentanone
Encyclopedia
3-Pentanone is a simple, symmetrical dialkyl ketone. It is a colorless liquid ketone
with an odor like that of acetone
. It is soluble in about 25 parts water, but miscible with organic solvents. It is mainly used as a solvent in paint and a precursor to vitamin E
. It is easily soluble in diethyl ether
and partially soluble in acetone
, methanol
, and water. Two related and more important ketones are 2-pentanone
and methyl isopropyl ketone
.
3-Pentanone is produced industrially from propionic acid using metal oxide catalysts:
It can also be prepared from ethylene
, CO, and H2.
value for 3-pentanone is 200 ppm (705 mg/m3). 3-pentanone can be hazardous if it comes in contact with the skin or eyes, and can cause irritation of the skin and redness, watering, and itching of the eyes. This chemical can also cause nervous system or organ damage if ingested. Although considered stable, 3-pentanone is extremely flammable if exposed to flame, sparks, or another source of heat. For safety, it should be stored in a flammable materials cabinet away from heat or sources of ignition, preferably in a cool, well-ventilated area.
Ketone
In organic chemistry, a ketone is an organic compound with the structure RCR', where R and R' can be a variety of atoms and groups of atoms. It features a carbonyl group bonded to two other carbon atoms. Many ketones are known and many are of great importance in industry and in biology...
with an odor like that of acetone
Acetone
Acetone is the organic compound with the formula 2CO, a colorless, mobile, flammable liquid, the simplest example of the ketones.Acetone is miscible with water and serves as an important solvent in its own right, typically as the solvent of choice for cleaning purposes in the laboratory...
. It is soluble in about 25 parts water, but miscible with organic solvents. It is mainly used as a solvent in paint and a precursor to vitamin E
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is used to refer to a group of fat-soluble compounds that include both tocopherols and tocotrienols. There are many different forms of vitamin E, of which γ-tocopherol is the most common in the North American diet. γ-Tocopherol can be found in corn oil, soybean oil, margarine and dressings...
. It is easily soluble in diethyl ether
Diethyl ether
Diethyl ether, also known as ethyl ether, simply ether, or ethoxyethane, is an organic compound in the ether class with the formula . It is a colorless, highly volatile flammable liquid with a characteristic odor...
and partially soluble in acetone
Acetone
Acetone is the organic compound with the formula 2CO, a colorless, mobile, flammable liquid, the simplest example of the ketones.Acetone is miscible with water and serves as an important solvent in its own right, typically as the solvent of choice for cleaning purposes in the laboratory...
, methanol
Methanol
Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits, is a chemical with the formula CH3OH . It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive odor very similar to, but slightly sweeter than, ethanol...
, and water. Two related and more important ketones are 2-pentanone
2-Pentanone
Pentan-2-one or 2-pentanone or methyl propyl ketone is a colorless liquid ketone with an odor resembling that of acetone. Its formula is C5H10O. It is sometimes used in very small amounts as a flavoring food additive. Two other ketones, 3-pentanone and methyl isopropyl ketone are isomers of...
and methyl isopropyl ketone
Methyl isopropyl ketone
Methyl isopropyl ketone is a highly flammable liquid ketone. Its formula is C5H10O. Two other ketones, which are isomers of methyl isopropyl ketone, are 2-pentanone and 3-pentanone. It is primarily used as a solvent....
.
3-Pentanone is produced industrially from propionic acid using metal oxide catalysts:
- 2 CH3CH2CO2H → (CH3CH2)2CO + CO2 + H2O
It can also be prepared from ethylene
Ethylene
Ethylene is a gaseous organic compound with the formula . It is the simplest alkene . Because it contains a carbon-carbon double bond, ethylene is classified as an unsaturated hydrocarbon. Ethylene is widely used in industry and is also a plant hormone...
, CO, and H2.
Safety
The TLVThreshold Limit Value
The threshold limit value of a chemical substance is a level to which it is believed a worker can be exposed day after day for a working lifetime without adverse health effects. Strictly speaking, TLV is a reserved term of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists...
value for 3-pentanone is 200 ppm (705 mg/m3). 3-pentanone can be hazardous if it comes in contact with the skin or eyes, and can cause irritation of the skin and redness, watering, and itching of the eyes. This chemical can also cause nervous system or organ damage if ingested. Although considered stable, 3-pentanone is extremely flammable if exposed to flame, sparks, or another source of heat. For safety, it should be stored in a flammable materials cabinet away from heat or sources of ignition, preferably in a cool, well-ventilated area.