acetone

acetone (ăs'itōn) [key], dimethyl ketone (dīmeth'ul kē'tōn) [key], or 2-propanone (prō'punōn) [key], CH₃COCH₃, colorless, flammable liquid. Acetone melts at -94.8°C and boils at 56.2°C. It is the simplest aliphatic ketone. Acetone is widely used in industry as a solvent for numerous organic substances and is a component of most paint and varnish removers. It is used in the manufacture of synthetic resins and fillers, smokeless powders (e.g., cordite), and numerous other organic compounds. Acetone is produced commercially chiefly by catalytic dehydrogenation of isopropanol.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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