Hexane
Exceptional Solvency
Its non-polar nature (dielectric constant: 0.009) and miscibility with solvents such as chloroform and ethanol confer exceptional capabilities in dissolving oils, resins, and adhesives. This makes it ideal for applications in the rubber, paint, and pharmaceutical industries.
High Volatility
A low boiling point of 68.95°C facilitates rapid evaporation, which is advantageous for accelerating drying times in adhesive formulation, textile treatment, and industrial cleaning processes, thereby enhancing production efficiency.
Economical Sourcing
Sourced through the fractional distillation of petroleum, this compound is available in bulk quantities at a competitive cost (Minimum Order Quantity: 1 Full Container Load), supporting its use in large-scale operations like leather degreasing and chemical extraction.
Regulated Handling and Storage
It remains liquid across a wide temperature range (−95°C to +30°C), enabling safer transportation (UN 3295, Packing Group II). Its established occupational exposure limit (TLV-TWA: 50 ppm) ensures its use is governed by defined industrial safety protocols.
*n*-Hexane, systematically named as a linear alkane with the molecular formula C₆H₁₄ and a molecular weight of 86.2, is obtained via the cracking and fractional distillation of petroleum. This colorless, volatile liquid possesses a characteristic gasoline-like odor and key physicochemical properties including a melting point of −95°C, a boiling point of 68.95°C, and a vapor density of 2.97 (air=1). It demonstrates near-insolubility in water but is miscible with chloroform, diethyl ether, and ethanol.
Melting point | -95 °C |
Boiling point | 68.95 °C(lit.) |
density | 0.659 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.) |
vapor density | 3.5 (vs air) |
vapor pressure | 40 mm Hg ( 20 °C) |
refractive index | n20/D 1.388 |
Fp | 30 °F |
storage temp. | Store at +5°C to +30°C. |
solubility | Very soluble in ethanol, ethyl ether and chloroform. |
form | Liquid |
pka | >14 (Schwarzenbach et al., 1993) |
color | Colorless |
Specific Gravity | 0.660 (20/4℃) |
Odor | Mild gasoline-like odor detectable at 65 to 248 ppm |
Relative polarity | 0.009 |
PH | 7 |
Odor Threshold | 1.5ppm |
explosive limit | 1.0-8.1%(V) |
Water Solubility | insoluble |
λmax | λ: 200 nm Amax: ≤0.70 |
Merck | 14,4694 |
BRN | 1730733 |
Henry's Law Constant | 0.238, 0.413, 0.883, 0.768, and 1.56 at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 °C, respectively (EPICS, Ashworth et al., 1988) |
Dielectric constant | 2.0（-90℃） |
Exposure limits | TLV-TWA 50 ppm (～175 mg/m3) (ACGIH), 500 ppm (～1750 mg/m3) (OSHA); IDLH 5000 ppm (NIOSH). |
Stability: | Stable. Incompatible with oxidizing agents, chlorine, fluorine, magnesium perchlorate. Highly flammable. Readily forms explosive mixtures with air. Note low flash point. |
InChIKey | VLKZOEOYAKHREP-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
LogP | 4 at 20℃ and pH7 |
Surface tension | 18.52mN/m at 293.15K |
CAS DataBase Reference | 110-54-3(CAS DataBase Reference) |
NIST Chemistry Reference | Hexane(110-54-3) |
EPA Substance Registry System | Hexane (110-54-3) |
Safety Information
Hazard Codes | F,Xn,N |
Risk Statements | 11-38-50/53-65-67-62-51/53-48/20-36/37/38 |
Safety Statements | 9-16-29-33-60-61-62-36/37-45-36/37/39-53-26 |
RIDADR | UN 3295 3/PG 2 |
OEB | A |
OEL | TWA: 50 ppm (180 mg/m3) |
WGK Germany | 3 |
RTECS | MN9275000 |
F | 3-10 |
Autoignition Temperature | 225 °C |
TSCA | Yes |
HazardClass | 3 |
PackingGroup | II |
HS Code | 29011000 |
Hazardous Substances Data | 110-54-3(Hazardous Substances Data) |
Toxicity | LC50 (4 hr) in mice by inhalation: 48000 ppm; LD50 orally in rats: 32.0 g/kg (Couri, Milks) |
IDLA | 1,100 ppm [10% LEL] |
Its primary industrial application is as a solvent in the production of rubber, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, footwear, leather goods, textiles, furniture, paints, and related sectors. In recent years, its use has expanded to include roles as a diluent in adhesive formulations and an organic scouring agent, a trend concurrent with documented incidents of occupational *n*-hexane poisoning in China.
