Ingredient Dictionary

PENTANONE

Pentan-2-one is a pentanone carrying an oxo substituent at position 2.

Definition

Pentan-2-one is a pentanone carrying an oxo substituent at position 2. It has a role as a plant metabolite. It is a pentanone and a methyl ketone.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII I97392I10V · registered name METHYL PROPYL KETONE · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Pentanone is the organic compound that conforms to the formula:

Cosmetic roles

Base that dissolves other ingredientsSOLVENT

Safety & regulatory references

Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

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

Names & identifiers

PENTANONEINCI2-PentanoneSynonym

CAS No.chemical registry number: 107-87-9
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 203-528-1
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID0021888
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID301888

IUPAC: Pentan-2-one
Molecular formula: C5H10O
Molecular weight: 86.134 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: Methyl propyl ketone appears as a clear colorless liquid with the odor of fingernail polish. Flash point 45 °F. Less dense than water and soluble in water. Hence floats on water. Density 0.809 g / cm3. Vapors heavier than air. · Liquid
Odour: Characteristic acetone-like odor
Boiling point: 212 to 214 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992) · 102.26 °C
Melting point: -108 °F (NTP, 1992) · -76.8 °C
Solubility: 10 to 50 mg/mL at 72 °F (NTP, 1992) · Slightly soluble in carbon tetrachloride
Density: 0.809 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water, will float · 0.809 at 20 °C/4 °C
Melting/freezing point: -100 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 102.7 ℃
Flash point: 8 ℃
Evaporation rate: 1.25
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: 8.2 / 1.5 %
Vapour pressure: 206 ㎩ (20℃)
Water solubility: 72.6 (20℃, g/L)
Vapour density: 3
Relative density: 0.806 (20℃)
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): 0.857 (ph 7, 20℃)
Auto-ignition temperature: 450 ℃
Viscosity: 0.607 (25℃, mPa s)
Molecular weight: 80.1323

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 10 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
Fragrance2
Processing aids not otherwise specified2
Flavouring and nutrient2
Antioxidant1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

4 skin studies and 5 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 9 studies

Moderate or Mild Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) equivalent or similar to
Not classified
Skin Irritation · Screening
Category 6.3B (Category 3)
Skin Irritation · Read Across
Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening
Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across
Category 2
Eye Irritation · Screening
Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2
Eye Irritation · Screening
Moderate or Mild Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) equivalent or similar to
Severe Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · EPA OTS 798.4500 (Acute Eye Irritation) according to