Description

Butanone, also known as methyl ethyl ketone or MEK, is an organic chemical compound belonging to the ketone family. Under ambient conditions, it appears as a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet, pungent odor. In nature, it is found as a substance in the plant kingdom, produced by some trees and present in small quantities in fruits and vegetables. It is an industrial product, used as a solvent base in various applications and as a synthesis intermediate for methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, which is used in the catalysis of some polymerization reactions. In the environment, it is found as a byproduct of fuel combustion in vehicle engines.