Bromoacetone
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| Bromoacetone | |
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| Chemical name | 1-Bromo-2-propanone |
| Other names | Bromoacetone |
| Chemical formula | C3H5BrO |
| Molecular mass | 136.99 g/mol |
| CAS number | [598-31-2] |
| Density | 1.634 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | -36.5 °C |
| Boiling point | 137 °C |
| SMILES | CC(CBr)=O |
| Disclaimer and references | |
Bromoacetone, or bromo-2-propanone, is a lachrymatory agent. It is a colorless liquid with stinging smell, melting point at -36.5 °C, boiling point at 137 °C, poor solubility in water, good solubility in organic solvents, and high volatility. Its chemical formula is CH3COCH2Br, or C3H5BrO. When exposed to light, its color slowly becomes violet.
Bromoacetone was used in World War I as a chemical weapon, called BA by British and B-stoff (white cross) by Germans. Due to its toxicity, it is obsolete as a riot control agent and is not used anymore.
It is very simple to prepare; mixing elementary bromine with acetone in presence of acid results in its formation. Therefore it is commonly used for pranks by chemistry students.
Bromoacetone is naturally present in the essential oil of a seaweed from the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands. In atmosphere it is degraded by the photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals. When delivered commercially, it may be stabilized with magnesium oxide.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Merck Index, 11th Edition, 1389
