Ingredient Dictionary

MEK

Butan-2-one is a dialkyl ketone that is a four-carbon ketone carrying a single keto- group at position C-2.

MEK Molecular structure — Molecular structure

How much products actually contain

No product states its amount yet.

Of the products containing it, 13 list it before the 1% line and 0 after it (usually 1% or less).

Products using this ingredient

12 of 13 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first · See all 13

Definition

Butan-2-one is a dialkyl ketone that is a four-carbon ketone carrying a single keto- group at position C-2. It has a role as a polar aprotic solvent and a bacterial metabolite. It is a volatile organic compound, a dialkyl ketone, a butanone and a methyl ketone.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII 6PT9KLV9IO · registered name METHYL ETHYL KETONE · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Gives the product a scentPERFUMINGBase that dissolves other ingredientsSOLVENT

Safety & regulatory references

Korea’s toxic-substance GHS classification: Danger · H336 (category 3) · H319 (category 2) · H225 (category 2)

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature

Official labels & definitions

JCIA labelling name ＭＥＫ: 本品は、次の化学式で表される脂肪族ケトンである。

Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)

Names & identifiers

MEKINCI엠이케이Korean label name (MFDS standard)2-ButanoneSynonym

CAS No.chemical registry number: 78-93-3
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 201-159-0
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID3021516
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID801516

IUPAC: Butan-2-one
Molecular formula: C4H8O
Molecular weight: 72.107 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: Methyl ethyl ketone appears as colorless fairly volatile liquid with a pleasant pungent odor. Flash point 20 °F. Vapors heavier than air. Does not react with water or many common materials. Stable in normal transportation. Irritates the nose, eyes, and throat. Combustion may produce toxic materials. Density 6.7 lb / gal. Used as a solvent, for making other chemicals, and for production of wax from · Liquid, Gas Vapor, CBI
Odour: Acetone-like odor · Sweet, pleasant, pungent
Boiling point: 175.3 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992) · 79.59 °C
Melting point: -123.3 °F (NTP, 1992) · -86.67 °C
Solubility: greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 66 °F (NTP, 1992) · Constant boiling mixture with water, BP 73.4 °C, contains 88.7% methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), Solubility of water in MEK is 12.5% at 25 °C
Density: 0.806 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water, will float · 0.805 at 20 °C/4 °C, 0.7997 at 25 °C/4 °C, 0.8255 at 0 °C/4 °C
Colour: colourless
Odour threshold: 0.7375~147.5 ㎎/㎥
Melting/freezing point: -86 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 79.59 ℃
Flash point: -9 ℃
Evaporation rate: 2.7
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: 11.5 / 1.8 %
Vapour pressure: 90.6 ㎜Hg(25℃)
Water solubility: 29 g/100㎖(20℃)
Vapour density: 2.41
Relative density: 0.8
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): 0.29
Auto-ignition temperature: 505 ℃
Viscosity: 0.40 cP(25℃)
Molecular weight: 72.11

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 80 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.

Catalyst19
Solvent17
Adhesion/cohesion promoter10
Degradant/impurity (EPA)7
Fragrance5
No specific technical function4
Surfactant (surface active agent)3
Intermediate2

10 other uses

Flavouring and nutrient2
Cleaning agent2
Processing aids not otherwise specified2
Plating agent1
Corrosion inhibitor1
Surface modifier1
Diluent1
Sealant (barrier)1
Lubricating agent1
Viscosity modifier1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

4 skin studies and 6 eye studies are on record.

Classed as moderate1Classed as low1

The studies disagree (the most common conclusion covers 50%), so they do not establish that this ingredient is irritating. These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.

See all 10 studies

Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening
Category 2
Skin Irritation · Screening
Category 6.3B (Category 3)
Skin Irritation · Read Across
Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · according to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation) year not reported; reliability scoring based on 1992 guideline according to EU Method B.6 (Skin Sensitisation) 1992
Eye Irrit. 2
Eye Irritation · Screening
Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across
Severe Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) equivalent or similar to
Category 2A
Eye Irritation · Screening
Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2
Eye Irritation · Screening
Eye Irrit. 2
Eye Irritation · Authoritative