Butyl acetate

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Butyl acetate
Names
IUPAC name
Butyl acetate
Preferred IUPAC name
Butyl acetate
Systematic IUPAC name
Butyl ethanoate
Other names
Acetic acid n-butyl ester
Butile
n-Butyl acetate
Properties
C6H12O2
Appearance Colorless liquid
Odor Fruity, paint-like
Density 0.8825 g/cm3 (20 °C)
Melting point −78 °C (−108 °F; 195 K)
Boiling point 126.1 °C (259.0 °F; 399.2 K)
0.68 g/100 ml (20 °C)
Solubility Miscible with acetone, chloroform, diethyl ether, ethanol, toluene, xylene
Vapor pressure 0.1 kPa (−19 °C)
1.66 kPa (24 °C)
44.5 kPa (100 °C)
Thermochemistry
−609.6 kJ/mol
Hazards
Safety data sheet Sigma-Aldrich
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
10,768 mg/kg (rats, oral)
160 ppm (rat, 4 hr)
2,000 ppm (rat, 4 hr)
391 ppm (rat, 4 hr)
1,242 ppm (mouse, 2 hr)
Related compounds
Related compounds
Butyl formate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Butyl acetate, also known as butyl ethanoate or n-butyl acetate, is an organic compound, an ester between acetic acid and butanol commonly used as a solvent.

It has 3 other isomers: isobutyl acetate, sec-butyl acetate and tert-butyl acetate. IUPAC nomenclature specifies that the butyl acetate name must only be used for the n isomer.

Properties

Chemical

Butyl acetate will hydrolyze under alkali conditions to give butanol and acetic acid or an acetate salt.

Physical

Butyl acetate is a colorless flammable liquid, with a fruity smell. It is poorly soluble in water (0.68 g/100 ml at 20 °C), but miscible in ethanol and soluble in chloroform and acetone. It boils at 126.1 °C and freezes at −78 °C.

Availability

Butyl acetate can be purchased from many chemical suppliers, such as ScienceStuff.

Butyl acetate is also found in most paint thinners, usually mixed with toluene or acetone. It can be extracted via fractional distillation.

Some paint strippers use butyl acetate.

Butyl acetate is omnipresent in most OTC solvents/paint thinners, and its presence may affect various chemical reactions done in said solvents.

Preparation

Butyl acetate is synthesized via the Fischer esterification of n-butanol and glacial acetic acid, with the presence of catalytic sulfuric acid under reflux. An excess of acetic acid is usually used in this preparation, as separation of butanol and butyl acetate is difficult.

Projects

  • Make synthetic fruit flavors
  • Organic solvent

Handling

Safety

Butyl acetate has moderate toxicity.

Storage

In closed bottles, away from any heat source.

Disposal

Butyl acetate can be safely burned in open air.

References

Relevant Sciencemadness threads