Solvent · polar protic
1-Propanol C3H8O
Also: n-propanol
Polar protic organic modifier in reversed-phase HPLC (stronger eluting than methanol/acetonitrile); viscosity/selectivity modifier and organic phase component in normal-phase and HILIC; sample diluent; GC solvent and derivatization/esterification reagent; used where its higher elution strength allows lower organic percentages, though high viscosity raises backpressure.
Compiled by Hemant RawatLast reviewed July 2026How we verify
Properties
- Formula
- C3H8O
- CAS number
- 71-23-8
- UV cutoff
- 210 nm
- Snyder polarity index (P′)
- 4
- Selectivity group
- II
- Eluotropic strength ε° (silica)
- 0.63
- Boiling point
- 97.2 °C
- Viscosity (25 °C)
- 2 cP
- Refractive index (nD²⁰)
- 1.3856
- Density
- 0.8035 g/mL
- Water miscibility
- miscible
- USP <467> class
- Class 3
Safety
- highly flammable
- eye irritant (serious eye damage/irritation)
- may cause drowsiness or dizziness (CNS depressant vapors)
- not classified as carcinogen
Reference only. Solvents can be flammable, toxic, or peroxide-forming. Always consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and your lab's protocols before handling.
What 1-Propanol mixes with
Miscible with: 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,4-Dioxane, 2-Propanol, Acetic acid, Acetone, Acetonitrile, Benzene, Carbon tetrachloride, Chloroform, Cyclohexane, Dichloromethane, Diethyl ether, Dimethyl sulfoxide, Ethanol, Ethyl acetate, Iso-octane, Methanol, Methyl ethyl ketone, Methyl isobutyl ketone, MTBE, n-Butanol, n-Butyl acetate, n-Heptane, n-Hexane, N-Methylpyrrolidone, n-Pentane, N,N-Dimethylacetamide, N,N-Dimethylformamide, Pyridine, tert-Butanol, Tetrahydrofuran, Toluene, Triethylamine, Water.
Check any specific pair on the interactive miscibility chart.
Using 1-Propanol in HPLC/GC
Polar protic organic modifier in reversed-phase HPLC (stronger eluting than methanol/acetonitrile); viscosity/selectivity modifier and organic phase component in normal-phase and HILIC; sample diluent; GC solvent and derivatization/esterification reagent; used where its higher elution strength allows lower organic percentages, though high viscosity raises backpressure.
Its Snyder polarity index is 4 (selectivity group II), and its UV cutoff of 210 nm is low enough for most UV detection.See what the polarity index means and the full UV cutoff table.
Sources
- University of Toronto (TRACES) — Burdick & Jackson — Solvent UV cutoff table (absorbance = 1 AU, 1 cm cell)
- Stenutz / L. R. Snyder — Solvent polarity index (P′) and selectivity groups
- NIST — Chemistry WebBook — thermophysical properties (BP, density, refractive index)
- PubChem (NIH/NLM) — Compound property records (physical constants, CAS, formula)
- USP <467> / ICH Q3C — Residual Solvents — solvent classification (Class 1/2/3)
Values are compiled from public references and were last verified July 2026. See ourmethodologyfor how we source and verify. Always confirm critical values against primary references and the SDS.