Butane-1,2-diol is a butanediol in which the two hydroxy groups are located at positions 1 and 2.
Definition
Butane-1,2-diol is a butanediol in which the two hydroxy groups are located at positions 1 and 2. It has a role as a metabolite. It is a glycol and a butanediol.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII RUN0H01QEU · registered name 1,2-BUTANEDIOL · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance
Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer
Source: EU CosIng ingredient list
Reviewed by CIR: Safety Assessment of 1,2-Glycols as Used in Cosmetics
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name １，２－ブタンジオール: 本品は、次の化学式で表される二価アルコールである。
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 584-03-2
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 209-527-2
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID6040375
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID4020375
- IUPAC
- Butane-1,2-diol
- Molecular formula
- C4H10O2
- Molecular weight
- 90.122 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- Liquid, CBI · Colorless, hygroscopic liquid, [CHEMINFO]
- Boiling point
- 195-196.9 °C · 194 °C
- Melting point
- -50 °C · -114 °C
- Solubility
- SPECIFIC OPTICAL ROTATION: -7.4 DEG AT 22 °C/D (ALCOHOL, 4%), SOL IN WATER, ALCOHOL & ACETONE /L-FORM/ · Miscible with water in all proportions, readily soluble in alcohols, slightly soluble in ethers and esters, and insoluble in hydrocarbons.
- Density
- 1.0023 @ 20 °C · Relative density (water = 1): 1.01
- Viscosity
- Dynamic viscosity @ 20 °C is 7.3 mPa.s · 7.3 mm²/s at 20 °C
- Colour
- colourless
- Melting/freezing point
- -114 ℃
- Initial boiling point and range
- 194 ℃
- Flash point
- 40 ℃(c.c.)
- Flammability (solid, gas)
- combustible
- Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits
- 157. / 1.8 %
- Vapour pressure
- 0.0501 ㎜Hg (@ 25 ℃)
- Water solubility
- 1000000 ㎎/ℓ (@ 25 ℃)
- Vapour density
- 3.1
- Relative density
- 1.0023 (@ 20 ℃)
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- -0.34 (@ 20 ℃)
- Auto-ignition temperature
- 390 ℃
- Molecular weight
- 90.12
Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
What products actually use it for
What the 6 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- Solvent3
- Humectant1
- Viscosity modifier1
- Softener and conditioner1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Biofilm Inhibition Effects of Cosmetic Preservative Alternatives on Skin Microbiome · 2026
- Unraveling the Molecular Mechanisms of Alcohol-Mediated Skin Permeation Enhancement: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations. · 2023
- The influence of alkane chain length on the skin irritation potential of 1,2‐alkanediols · 2011
- Tumor promotion of N-nitroso-N-(3-keto-1, 2-butanediol)-3'-nitrotyramine derived from nitrosation of Maillard reaction product in CD-1 mice. · 2000
Linked databases 20
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- China inventory of existing ingredients (IECIC)
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- JCIA labelling names (Japan)
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) 2
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · Korean · English · Japanese · Chinese