Summary of Key Physical Data for Solvents
Solvent Group
A classification for solvents in which they are placed in similar groups of selectivity.
Solvents of similar functionality are grouped into the same region of selectivity.
Group
1 Aliphatic ethers, tetramethylguanidine, hexamethyl phosphoric acid amides, trialkylamines
2 Aliphatic alcohols
3 Pyridine derivatives, tetrahydrofuran, amides (except formamide), glycol ethers, sulfoxides
4 Glycols, benzyl alcohol, acetic acid, formamide
5 Methylene chloride, ethylene chloride
6a Tricresyl phosphate, aliphatic ketones and esters, poly-ethers, dioxane
6b Sulfones, nitriles, propylene carbonate
7 Aromatic hydrocarbons, halo-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, nitro compounds, aromatic ethers
8 Fluoroalkanols, m-cresol, water, chloroform
Polarity Index (p1)
Defined as a measure of the ability of the solvent
to interact with various test solutes. p1 increases
with solvent polarity.
References
• Classification of the Solvent Properties of Common Liquids.
L.R. Snyder.
Journal of Chromatography,
92 (1978) 223-234.
| Solvent | Solvent Group | Polarity Index (p1) | Boiling Point (°C) | Viscosity 20°C (cP) | Refractive Index | Density at 20°C (g/mL) |
| Acetone | 6a | 5,1 | 56,2 | 0,32 | 1,359 | 0,79 |
| Acetonitrile | 6b | 5,8 | 81,6 | 0,36 | 1,344 | 0,781 |
| Benzene | 7 | 2,7 | 80,1 | 0,65 | 1,501 | 0,879 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | – | 1,6 | 76,8 | 0,97 | 1,46 | 1,594 |
| 1-Chlorobutane | 5 | 1 | 78,4 | 0,45 | 1,402 | 0,886 |
| Chloroform | 8 | 4,1 | 61,7 | 0,57 | 1,444 | 1,489 |
| Cyclohexane | – | 0,2 | 80,7 | 1 | 1,427 | 0,778 |
| 1,2 Dichloroethane | 5 | 3,5 | 83,5 | 0,79 | 1,445 | 1,253 |
| Dichloromethane | 5 | 3,1 | 39,7 | 0,43 | 1,424 | 1,324 |
| Diethyl ether | 1 | 2,8 | 34,5 | 0,23 | 1,352 | 0,713 |
| Dimethylformamide | 3 | 6,4 | 153 | 0,85 | 1,429 | 0,949 |
| Dimethylsulfoxide | 3 | 7,2 | 189 | 2,24 | 1,478 | 1,1 |
| 1,4 Dioxane | 6a | 4,8 | 101,1 | 1,54 | 1,422 | 1,034 |
| Ethanol, absolute | 2 | 4,3 | 78 | 1,2 | 1,361 | 0,789 |
| Ethyl acetate | 6a | 4,4 | 77,1 | 0,45 | 1,372 | 0,9 |
| Heptane | – | 0,1 | 94-97,5 | 0,41 | 1,394 | 0,69 |
| Hexane | – | 0,1 | 67-69,5 | 0,31 | – | 0,672 |
| Methanol | 2 | 5,1 | 64,7 | 0,55 | 1,328 | 0,791 |
| 2-Methoxyethanol | 3 | 5,5 | 124,6 | 1,72 | 1,402 | 0,965 |
| Methyl-tert-butyl ether | 1 | 2,5 | 55,3 | 0,27 | 1,369 | 0,741 |
| Octan-1-ol | 2 | 3,4 | 195,2 | 10,64 approx | 1,429 | 0,823 |
| Pentane | – | – | 36,1 | 0,23 | 1,357 | 0,626 |
| Petroleum ether | – | 0,1 | 40-60, 60-80 | 0,3 | – | 0,64, 0,68 |
| Propan-1-ol | 2 | 4 | 97,2 | 2,26 | 1,385 | 0,804 |
| Propan-2-ol | 2 | 3,9 | 82,3 | 2,3 | 1,377 | 0,785 |
| Pyridine | 3 | 5,3 | 115,3 | 0,95 | 1,509 | 0,982 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | – | – | 121,2 | 0,93 | 1,505 | 1,621 |
| Tetrahydrofuran | 3 | 4 | 66 | 0,55 | 1,407 | 0,888 |
| Toluene | 7 | 2,4 | 110,6 | 0,59 | 1,496 | 0,865 |
| 1,2,4 Trichlorobenzene | 7 | – | 214 | – | 1,572 | 1,454 |
| 2,2,4 Trimethylpentane | – | 0,1 | 99,2 | 0,51 | 1,391 | 0,692 |
| Water | 8 | 10,2 | 100 | 1 | 1,333 | 1 |