Definition and Areas of Use :
The first member of the ketone class is dimethyl ketone. Its closed formula is C3H6O, its boiling point is 56 °C. It combines with water, ethanol and ether in all proportions. It has a sharp odor. It is obtained from the dry distillation of wood; from the heating of calcium acetate; in technique, from the dehydrogenation of isopropanol with copper catalysts at 250 °C; from the mixture of ethanol and water vapor at 250 °C in the gas phase with Fe2O3 catalyst. If acetone and sodium nitrosyl prussiate are mixed in a basic environment, red precipitation occurs, acetone is detected. An important reaction is the formation of iodoform with elemental iodine in a basic environment. It is found in cigarettes.