Ingredient Dictionary

SEC-BUTYL ALCOHOL

Butan-2-ol is a secondary alcohol that is butane substituted by a hydroxy group at position 2.

Definition

Butan-2-ol is a secondary alcohol that is butane substituted by a hydroxy group at position 2. It derives from a hydride of a butane.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII 0TUL3ENK62 · registered name 2-Butanol · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

sec-Butyl Alcohol is the organic compound

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

SEC-BUTYL ALCOHOLINCI2-ButanolSynonym

CAS No.chemical registry number: 78-92-2
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 201-158-5
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID9021762
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID101762

IUPAC: Butan-2-ol
Molecular formula: C4H10O
Molecular weight: 74.123 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: liquid
Colour: colourless
Melting/freezing point: -115 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 100 ℃
Flash point: 24 ℃(c.c.)
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: 9 / 1.7 %
Vapour pressure: 1.7 ㎪(20℃)
Water solubility: 21 g/100㎖
Vapour density: 2.55
Relative density: 0.81
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): 0.6
Auto-ignition temperature: 405 ℃
Viscosity: 3.084 cP(25℃)
Molecular weight: 74.122

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: KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)

What products actually use it for

What the 22 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.

Solvent6
Fragrance3
Lubricating agent3
Flavouring and nutrient3
Processing aids not otherwise specified2
Wetting agent (non-aqueous)2
Dispersing agent2
Intermediate1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

5 skin studies and 7 eye studies are on record.

Classed as low5

The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.

See all 12 studies

Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) -reliability scoring based on 2002 guideline according to
Not classified
Skin Sensitization · Screening
Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · equivalent or similar to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation)
Not classified
Skin Irritation · Screening
Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · according to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation) 1992. according to EU Method B.6 (Skin Sensitisation) ;1992
Severe Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) -reliability scoring based on 2002 guideline according to
Eye Irrit. 2
Eye Irritation · Authoritative
Eye Irrit. 2
Eye Irritation · Screening
Severe Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) equivalent or similar to
Category 2A
Eye Irritation · Screening
Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across
Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2A
Eye Irritation · Screening