Propertles and Uses of Acetone   

Acetone is a volatile liquid with a distinct sweet odor. It is miscible with water, alcohols, and many hydrocarbons. For this reason, it is a highly desirable solvent for paints, lacquers, and cellulose acetate. Acetone was the 41st highest volume chemical. The 1994 U.S. production was approximately 2.8 billion pounds.  As a symmetrical ketone, acetone is a reactive compound with many synthetic uses. Among the important chemicals based on acetone are methylisobutyl ketone, methyl methacrylate, ketene, and diacetone alcohol.