Solvent · polar protic
2-Propanol C3H8O
Also: IPA, isopropanol, isopropyl alcohol
Common HPLC/GC solvent. In HPLC: strong eluting modifier for reversed-phase and especially normal-phase separations, viscosity-lowering / column-regeneration and storage solvent, sample diluent, and a bridging (mutual) solvent to transition columns between aqueous and non-polar mobile phases because it is miscible with both water and hydrocarbons. Used in size-exclusion and ion-exchange work and as a wash solvent. Drawbacks: high viscosity raises backpressure and UV cutoff (~205-207 nm) limits low-wavelength detection. In GC: sample solvent and headspace/residual-solvent analyte (ICH Q3C / USP <467> Class 3).
Compiled by Hemant RawatLast reviewed July 2026How we verify
Properties
- Formula
- C3H8O
- CAS number
- 67-63-0
- UV cutoff
- 205 nm
- Snyder polarity index (P′)
- 3.9
- Selectivity group
- II
- Eluotropic strength ε° (silica)
- 0.6
- Boiling point
- 82.4 °C
- Viscosity (25 °C)
- 2.4 cP
- Refractive index (nD²⁰)
- 1.3776
- Density
- 0.785 g/mL
- Water miscibility
- miscible
- USP <467> class
- Class 3
Safety
- highly flammable (flash point ~12 C, closed cup)
- eye/respiratory/skin irritant
- CNS depressant / narcotic at high vapor concentration
- may form peroxides slowly on prolonged air exposure (secondary alcohol)
- not classified as carcinogen or 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 2-Propanol mixes with
Miscible with: 1-Propanol, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,4-Dioxane, 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 2-Propanol in HPLC/GC
Common HPLC/GC solvent. In HPLC: strong eluting modifier for reversed-phase and especially normal-phase separations, viscosity-lowering / column-regeneration and storage solvent, sample diluent, and a bridging (mutual) solvent to transition columns between aqueous and non-polar mobile phases because it is miscible with both water and hydrocarbons. Used in size-exclusion and ion-exchange work and as a wash solvent. Drawbacks: high viscosity raises backpressure and UV cutoff (~205-207 nm) limits low-wavelength detection. In GC: sample solvent and headspace/residual-solvent analyte (ICH Q3C / USP <467> Class 3).
Its Snyder polarity index is 3.9 (selectivity group II), and its UV cutoff of 205 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.