Solvent · low polarity
Carbon tetrachloride CCl4
Also: CCl4
Historically a low-polarity normal-phase mobile-phase component and a transparent solvent for IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy (no C-H protons); occasional GC solvent. Now essentially obsolete in modern HPLC/GC labs due to high toxicity, carcinogenicity, and its ban as an ozone-depleting substance; retained only as a reference-data entry.
Compiled by Hemant RawatLast reviewed July 2026How we verify
Properties
- Formula
- CCl4
- CAS number
- 56-23-5
- UV cutoff
- 263 nm
- Snyder polarity index (P′)
- 1.6
- Selectivity group
- — (non-selective)
- Eluotropic strength ε° (silica)
- 0.11
- Boiling point
- 76.7 °C
- Viscosity (25 °C)
- 0.97 cP
- Refractive index (nD²⁰)
- 1.4601
- Density
- 1.594 g/mL
- Water miscibility
- immiscible
- USP <467> class
- Class 1
Safety
- carcinogen (IARC Group 2B)
- hepatotoxic / target-organ toxicant (liver, kidney)
- acutely toxic (oral/inhalation/dermal)
- reprotoxic (suspected)
- CNS depressant
- ozone-depleting substance (Montreal Protocol, banned/phased out)
- non-flammable
- environmental hazard
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 Carbon tetrachloride mixes with
Miscible with: 1-Propanol, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,4-Dioxane, 2-Propanol, Acetic acid, Acetone, Benzene, Chloroform, Cyclohexane, Dichloromethane, Diethyl ether, 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.
Partially miscible with: Acetonitrile, Dimethyl sulfoxide — mix only over a limited range.
Immiscible with: Water — these form two layers.
Check any specific pair on the interactive miscibility chart.
Using Carbon tetrachloride in HPLC/GC
Historically a low-polarity normal-phase mobile-phase component and a transparent solvent for IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy (no C-H protons); occasional GC solvent. Now essentially obsolete in modern HPLC/GC labs due to high toxicity, carcinogenicity, and its ban as an ozone-depleting substance; retained only as a reference-data entry.
Its Snyder polarity index is 1.6, and its UV cutoff of 263 nm limits low-wavelength 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.