SHEET /vs/acetone-vs-ethyl-acetate · COMPARISON
Acetone vs Ethyl acetate: what is the difference?
How they differ
from source
These are the two solvents in nail polish remover, and the choice between them is about aggression. Acetone is a small ketone that dissolves polish fast and also strips oils from skin and nail, which is the drying people notice. Ethyl acetate is an ester, heavier at 88.11 against 58.08, slower to evaporate and gentler on the nail plate, which is why it is what acetone-free removers actually contain. Ethyl acetate also smells fruity rather than sharp, and it occurs naturally in wine and ripe fruit. Both are flammable and both carry a GHS Danger signal word, so acetone-free is a statement about the solvent, not about the hazard class.
Side by side
| Acetone | Ethyl acetate | |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | C3H6O | C4H8O2 |
| Molecular weight | 58.08 g/mol | 88.11 g/mol |
| Family | Ketones | Esters |
| Everyday group | Everyday chemistry | Food & flavor |
| Functional groups | Ketones | Esters |
| GHS signal wordThe supplier-filed hazard label, not a statement about ordinary use. | Danger | Danger |
| Oral LD50A single acute animal measure. It ranks nothing about human safety. | 5,800 mg/kg (oral, rat) | 4,900 mg/kg (oral, rabbit) |
| Found in | not recorded | Spirits |
| CAS number | 67-64-1 | 141-78-6 |
| PubChem CID | 180 | 8857 |
Common questions
- What is the difference between Acetone and Ethyl acetate?
- These are the two solvents in nail polish remover, and the choice between them is about aggression. Acetone is a small ketone that dissolves polish fast and also strips oils from skin and nail, which is the drying people notice. Ethyl acetate is an ester, heavier at 88.11 against 58.08, slower to evaporate and gentler on the nail plate, which is why it is what acetone-free removers actually contain.
- Is Acetone bigger than Ethyl acetate?
- Ethyl acetate is the heavier molecule, 88.11 g/mol against 58.08 g/mol for Acetone. Acetone is C3H6O and Ethyl acetate is C4H8O2.
- Which has the lower reported LD50, Acetone or Ethyl acetate?
- Ethyl acetate, at 4,900 mg/kg (oral, rabbit), against 5,800 mg/kg (oral, rat) for Acetone. An LD50 is one acute animal measurement, and the two here were not necessarily measured in the same species, so it is a data point rather than a ranking of how dangerous either is to a person.
Read the full records: Acetone and Ethyl acetate.