Polarity Index (P´)

Pentane 0.0
1,1,2-Trichlorotrifluoroethane 0.0
Cyclopentane 0.1
Heptane 0.1
Hexane 0.1

Iso-Octane 0.1
Petroleum Ether 0.1
Cyclohexane 0.2
n-Butyl Chloride 1.0

Toluene 2.4
Methyl t-Butyl Ether 2.5
o-Xylene 2.5
Chlorobenzene 2.7
o-Dichlorobenzene 2.7

Ethyl Ether 2.8

Dichloromethane 3.1
Ethylene Dichloride 3.5
n-Butyl Alcohol 3.9
Isopropyl Alcohol 3.9

n-Butyl Acetate 4.0

Isobutyl Alcohol 4.0
Methyl Isoamyl Ketone 4.0
n-Propyl Alcohol 4.0
Tetrahydrofuran 4.0

Chloroform 4.1
Methyl Isobutyl Ketone 4.2
Ethyl Acetate 4.4
Methyl n-Propyl Ketone 4.5
Methyl Ethyl Ketone 4.7

1,4-Dioxane 4.8
Acetone 5.1
Methanol 5.1
Pyridine 5.3
2-Methoxyethanol 5.5

Acetonitrile 5.8
Propylene Carbonate 6.1
N,N-Dimethylformamide 6.4
Dimethyl Acetamide 6.5
N-Methylpyrrolidone 6.7

Dimethyl Sulfoxide 7.2

Water 10.2
Not included:

Ethyl Alcohol
Glyme
Isopropyl Myristate
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
Triethylamine
Trifluoroacetic Acid

Ref: http://macro.lsu.edu/howto/solvents/Polarity%20index.htm

Properties of Organic Solvents

The values in the table below except as noted have been extracted from online and
hardbound compilations . Values for relative polarity, eluant strength, threshold limits and vapor pressure
have been extracted from: Christian Reichardt, Solvents and Solvent Effects in Organic
Chemistry, Wiley-VCH Publishers, 3rd ed., 2003. For Spectra of Solvents, jump to the bottom of this
phttp://murov.info/webercises.htmage. For an Organic Chemistry Directory,
see: http://murov.info/orgchem.htm .
For a Chemistry Directory, see: http://murov.info/webercises.htm
For much more complete information on physical and safety properties of solvents, please go to:
http://www.knovel.com/web/portal/browse/display?_EXT_KNOVEL_DISPLAY_bookid=7
61
http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/chemidlite.jsp
The tables below were posted (10/23/98) and revised (07/28/09) and updated (04/10/10) by Steve
Murov, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry.

Table 1 arranged alphabetically, Table 2 arranged according to increasing polarity

TABLE 1
Solvent formul boiling point melting point densi solubility in H2O1 (g relativ eluant stren threshold limits4 vapor pressure
 a (oC) (oC) ty /100g) e gth3 (ppm) 20oC (hPa)
(g/m polari
L) ty2
acetic acid C2H4O 118 16.6 1.049 M 0.648 >1 10 15.3
2

acetone C3H6O 56.2 -94.3 0.786 M 0.355 0.56 500 240

acetonitrile C2H3N 81.6 -46 0.786 M 0.460 0.65 20 97
acetyl acetone C5H8O 140.4 -23 0.975 16 0.571
2

2-aminoethanol C2H7N 170.9 10.5 1.018 M 0.651 3 0.53

O
aniline C6H7N 184.4 -6.0 1.022 3.4 0.420 2 0.4
anisole C7H8O 153.7 -37.5 0.996 0.10 0.198
benzene C6H6 80.1 5.5 0.879 0.18 0.111 0.32 0.5 101
benzonitrile C7H5N 205 -13 0.996 0.2 0.333 10 12
benzyl alcohol C7H8O 205.4 -15.3 1.042 3.5 0.608
1-butanol C4H10 117.6 -89.5 0.81 7.7 0.586 20 6.3
O

2-butanol C4H10 99.5 -114.7 0.808 18.1 0.506 100

O
i-butanol C4H10 107.9 -108.2 0.803 8.5 0.552
O
2-butanone C4H8O 79.6 -86.3 0.805 25.6 0.327 0.51 200 105
t-butyl alcohol C4H10 82.2 25.5 0.786 M 0.389 100 41
O
carbon disulfide CS2 46.3 -111.6 1.263 0.2 0.065 0.15 10 400
carbon tetrachlo CCl4 76.7 -22.4 1.594 0.08 0.052 0.18 5 120
ride
chlorobenzene C6H5C 132 -45.6 1.106 0.05 0.188 0.30 10 12
l
chloroform CHCl3 61.2 -63.5 1.498 0.8 0.259 10 210
cyclohexane C6H12 80.7 6.6 0.779 0.005 0.006 0.04 100 104
cyclohexanol C6H12 161.1 25.2 0.962 4.2 0.509 50 1.2
O
cyclohexanone C6H10 155.6 -16.4 0.948 2.3 0.281 25 5
O
di-n- C16H22 340 -35 1.049 0.0011 0.272
butylphthalate O4
1,1- C2H4C 57.3 -97.0 1.176 0.5 0.269 100 240
dichloroethane l2
diethylene glycol C4H10 245 -10 1.118 M 0.713 0.027
O3
diglyme C6H14 162 -64 0.945 M 0.244
O3
dimethoxyethan C4H10 85 -58 0.868 M 0.231
e (glyme) O2
N,N- C8H11 194.2 2.4 0.956 0.14 0.179
dimethylaniline N
dimethylforma C3H7N 153 -61 0.944 M 0.386 10 3.5
mide (DMF) O
dimethylphthala C10H10 283.8 1 1.190 0.43 0.309
te O4
dimethylsulfoxid C2H6O 189 18.4 1.092 M 0.444 0.75
e (DMSO) S
dioxane C4H8O 101.1 11.8 1.033 M 0.164 0.56 20 41
2

ethanol C2H6O 78.5 -114.1 0.789 M 0.654 0.88 100 59

ether C4H10 34.6 -116.3 0.713 7.5 0.117 0.38 400 587
O
ethyl acetate C4H8O 77 -83.6 0.894 8.7 0.228 0.58 400 97
2

ethyl C6H10 180.4 -80 1.028 2.9 0.577

acetoacetate O3
ethyl benzoate C9H10 213 -34.6 1.047 0.07 0.228
O2
ethylene glycol C2H6O 197 -13 1.115 M 0.790 1.11
 2

glycerin C3H8O 290 17.8 1.261 M 0.812

3

heptane C7H16 98 -90.6 0.684 0.0003 0.012 400 48

1-heptanol C7H16 176.4 -35 0.819 0.17 0.549
O
hexane C6H14 69 -95 0.655 0.0014 0.009 0.01 50 160
1-hexanol C6H14 158 -46.7 0.814 0.59 0.559
O
methanol CH4O 64.6 -98 0.791 M 0.762 0.95 200 128
methyl acetate C3H6O 56.9 -98.1 0.93 24.4 0.253 200 220
2 3
methyl t- C5H12 55.2 -109 0.741 4.8 0.124 0.20
butyl ether O
(MTBE)
methylene chlori CH2Cl 39.8 -96.7 1.326 1.32 0.309 0.42 50 475
de 2

1-octanol C8H18 194.4 -15 0.827 0.096 0.537

O
pentane C5H12 36.1 -129.7 0.626 0.004 0.009 0.00 600 573
1-pentanol C5H12 138.0 -78.2 0.814 2.2 0.568
O
2-pentanol C5H12 119.0 -50 0.810 4.5 0.488
O
3-pentanol C5H12 115.3 -8 0.821 5.1 0.463
O
2-pentanone C5H10 102.3 -76.9 0.809 4.3 0.321
O
3-pentanone C5H12 101.7 -39.8 0.814 3.4 0.265 200
O
1-propanol C3H8O 97 -126 0.803 M 0.617 0.82
2-propanol C3H8O 82.4 -88.5 0.785 M 0.546 0.82 400 44
pyridine C5H5N 115.5 -42 0.982 M 0.302 0.71 5 20
tetrahydrofuran C4H8O 66 -108.4 0.886 30 0.207 0.57 200 200
(THF)
toluene C7H8 110.6 -93 0.867 0.05 0.099 0.29 50 29
water H2O 100.00 0.00 0.998 M 1.000 >>1
water, heavy D2O 101.3 4 1.107 M 0.991
p-xylene C8H10 138.3 13.3 0.861 0.02 0.074 0.26 100 15

1 M = miscible.
2 The values for relative polarity are normalized from measurements of solvent shifts of absorption spectra and were
extracted from Christian Reichardt, Solvents and Solvent Effects in Organic Chemistry, Wiley-VCH Publishers, 3rd ed., 2003.
3 Snyder's empirical eluant strength parameter for alumina. Extracted from Reichardt, page 495.
4 Threshold limits for exposure. Extracted from Reichardt, pages 501-502.

TABLE 2

Solvent formul boiling point melting point densi solubility in H2O1 (g relativ eluant stren threshold limits4 vapor pressure
a (oC) (oC) ty /100g) e gth3 (ppm) 20oC (hPa)
(g/m polari
L) ty2
cyclohexane C6H12 80.7 6.6 0.779 0.005 0.006 0.04 100 104
pentane C5H12 36.1 -129.7 0.626 0.0039 0.009 0.00 600 573
hexane C6H14 69 -95 0.655 0.0014 0.009 0.01 50 160
heptane C7H16 98 -90.6 0.684 0.0003 0.012 400 48
carbon tetrachlor CCl4 76.7 -22.4 1.594 0.08 0.052 0.18 5 120
ide
carbon disulfide CS2 46.3 -111.6 1.263 0.2 0.065 0.15 10 400
p-xylene C8H10 138.3 13.3 0.861 0.02 0.074 0.26 100 15
toluene C7H8 110.6 -93 0.867 0.05 0.099 0.24 50 29
benzene C6H6 80.1 5.5 0.879 0.18 0.111 0.32 0.5 101
ether C4H10 34.6 -116.3 0.713 7.5 0.117 0.38 400 587
O
methyl t- C5H12 55.2 -109 0.741 4.8 0.124 0.20
butyl ether O
(MTBE)
diethylamine C4H11 56.3 -48 0.706 M 0.145 0.63 5 260
N
dioxane C4H8O 101.1 11.8 1.033 M 0.164 0.56 20 41
2

N,N- C8H11 194.2 2.4 0.956 0.14 0.179

dimethylaniline N
chlorobenzene C6H5C 132 -45.6 1.106 0.05 0.188 0.30 10 12
l
anisole C7H8O 153.7 -37.5 0.996 0.10 0.198
tetrahydrofuran C4H8O 66 -108.4 0.886 30 0.207 0.57 200 200
(THF)
ethyl acetate C4H8O 77 -83.6 0.894 8.7 0.228 0.57 400 97
2

ethyl benzoate C9H10 213 -34.6 1.047 0.07 0.228

O2
dimethoxyethane C4H10 85 -58 0.868 M 0.231
(glyme) O2
diglyme C6H14 162 -64 0.945 M 0.244
O3
methyl acetate C3H6O 56.9 -98.1 0.933 24.4 0.253 200 220
2

chloroform CHCl3 61.2 -63.5 1.498 0.8 0.259 0.40 10 210

3-pentanone C5H12 101.7 -39.8 0.814 3.4 0.265 200
O
1,1- C2H4C 57.3 -97.0 1.176 0.5 0.269 100 240
dichloroethane l2
di-n-butyl C16H22 340 -35 1.049 0.0011 0.272
phthalate O4
cyclohexanone C6H10 155.6 -16.4 0.948 2.3 0.281 25 5
O
pyridine C5H5N 115.5 -42 0.982 M 0.302 0.71 5 20
dimethylphthalat C10H10 283.8 1 1.190 0.43 0.309
e O4
methylene chlori CH2Cl 39.8 -96.7 1.326 1.32 0.309 0.42 50 475
de 2

2-pentanone C5H10 102.3 -76.9 0.809 4.3 0.321

O
2-butanone C4H8O 79.6 -86.3 0.805 25.6 0.327 0.51 200 105
1,2- C2H4C 83.5 -35.4 1.235 0.87 0.327
dichloroethane l2
benzonitrile C7H5N 205 -13 0.996 0.2 0.333 10 12
acetone C3H6O 56.2 -94.3 0.786 M 0.355 0.56 500 240
dimethylformami C3H7N 153 -61 0.944 M 0.386 10 3.5
de (DMF) O
t-butyl alcohol C4H10 82.2 25.5 0.786 M 0.389 100 41
O
aniline C6H7N 184.4 -6.0 1.022 3.4 0.420 2 0.4
dimethylsulfoxid C2H6O 189 18.4 1.092 M 0.444 0.75
e (DMSO) S
acetonitrile C2H3N 81.6 -46 0.786 M 0.460 0.65 20 97
3-pentanol C5H12 115.3 -8 0.821 5.1 0.463
O
2-pentanol C5H12 119.0 -50 0.810 4.5 0.488
O
2-butanol C4H10 99.5 -114.7 0.808 18.1 0.506 100
O
cyclohexanol C6H12 161.1 25.2 0.962 4.2 0.509 50 1.2
O
1-octanol C8H18 194.4 -15 0.827 0.096 0.537
O
2-propanol C3H8O 82.4 -88.5 0.785 M 0.546 0.82 400 44
1-heptanol C7H16 176.4 -35 0.819 0.17 0.549
O
i-butanol C4H10 107.9 -108.2 0.803 8.5 0.552
O
1-hexanol C6H14 158 -46.7 0.814 0.59 0.559
 O
1-pentanol C5H12 138.0 -78.2 0.814 2.2 0.568
O
acetyl acetone C5H8O 140.4 -23 0.975 16 0.571
2

ethyl acetoacetate C6H10 180.4 -80 1.028 2.9 0.577

O3
1-butanol C4H10 117.6 -89.5 0.81 7.7 0.586 20 6.3
O
benzyl alcohol C7H8O 205.4 -15.3 1.042 3.5 0.608
1-propanol C3H8O 97 -126 0.803 M 0.617 0.82
acetic acid C2H4O 118 16.6 1.049 M 0.648 >1 10 15.3
2

2-aminoethanol C2H7N 170.9 10.5 1.018 M 0.651 3 0.53

O
ethanol C2H6O 78.5 -114.1 0.789 M 0.654 0.88 1000 59
diethylene glycol C4H10 245 -10 1.118 M 0.713 0.027
O3
methanol CH4O 64.6 -98 0.791 M 0.762 0.95 200 128
ethylene glycol C2H6O 197 -13 1.115 M 0.790 1.11
2

glycerin C3H8O 290 17.8 1.261 M 0.812

3

water, heavy D2O 101.3 4 1.107 M 0.991

water H2O 100.00 0.00 0.998 M 1.000 >>1

Spectra (of solvents and other compounds)

1. ir, nmr, mass spectra

Aldrich - http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/
NIMC site - http://riodb01.ibase.aist.go.jp/sdbs/cgi-bin/cre_index.cgi?lang=eng
RSC - http://www.rsc.org/education/teachers/learnnet/spectra/index2.htm

2. ir, mass spectra, uv-vis

NIST site - http://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/

3. ir
Acros - http://www.acros.com/portal/alias__Rainbow/lang__en/tabID__21/DesktopDefault.aspx
ChemExper Chem Directory - http://www.chemexper.com/

4. nmr
human metabolites - http://hmdb.ca/ (also some mass spectra)
bioorganics - http://mmcd.nmrfam.wisc.edu/mmcdbrowse.html
Solvents - http://www.alsnotebook.com/chlorformtraces.html

Ref: https://sites.google.com/site/miller00828/in/solvent-polarity-table