Solvent · nonpolar
Cyclohexane C6H12
Nonpolar mobile-phase solvent in normal-phase HPLC and adsorption chromatography; low-toxicity alternative to n-hexane/heptane as a weak (low eluotropic strength) NP eluent; sample diluent for hydrocarbon and lipophilic analytes; UV-transparent solvent for UV/Vis spectrophotometry (transparent to ~200 nm); GC diluent and extraction solvent for nonpolar compounds.
Compiled by Hemant RawatLast reviewed July 2026How we verify
Properties
- Formula
- C6H12
- CAS number
- 110-82-7
- UV cutoff
- 200 nm
- Snyder polarity index (P′)
- 0.2
- Selectivity group
- — (non-selective)
- Eluotropic strength ε° (silica)
- 0.03
- Boiling point
- 80.7 °C
- Viscosity (25 °C)
- 1 cP
- Refractive index (nD²⁰)
- 1.4262
- Density
- 0.779 g/mL
- Water miscibility
- immiscible
- USP <467> class
- Class 2
Safety
- highly flammable liquid and vapor
- aspiration hazard (may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways)
- skin/eye irritant
- CNS depressant (drowsiness/dizziness on inhalation)
- very toxic to aquatic life (environmental hazard)
- not classified as carcinogen
- not a peroxide-former
- not reprotoxic
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 Cyclohexane mixes with
Miscible with: 1-Propanol, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,4-Dioxane, 2-Propanol, Acetic acid, Acetone, Benzene, Carbon tetrachloride, Chloroform, Dichloromethane, Diethyl ether, Ethanol, Ethyl acetate, Iso-octane, Methyl ethyl ketone, Methyl isobutyl ketone, MTBE, n-Butanol, n-Butyl acetate, n-Heptane, n-Hexane, n-Pentane, Pyridine, tert-Butanol, Tetrahydrofuran, Toluene, Triethylamine.
Partially miscible with: Acetonitrile, Methanol, N-Methylpyrrolidone, N,N-Dimethylacetamide, N,N-Dimethylformamide — mix only over a limited range.
Immiscible with: Dimethyl sulfoxide, Water — these form two layers.
Check any specific pair on the interactive miscibility chart.
Using Cyclohexane in HPLC/GC
Nonpolar mobile-phase solvent in normal-phase HPLC and adsorption chromatography; low-toxicity alternative to n-hexane/heptane as a weak (low eluotropic strength) NP eluent; sample diluent for hydrocarbon and lipophilic analytes; UV-transparent solvent for UV/Vis spectrophotometry (transparent to ~200 nm); GC diluent and extraction solvent for nonpolar compounds.
Its Snyder polarity index is 0.2, and its UV cutoff of 200 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.