MEK
Butanone
MEK is listed in the EU CosIng inventory, but no direct annex records are linked on this page yet.
Regulatory evidence by market
No rule for this ingredient has been imported for any of the 13 markets tracked here.
That describes this inventory, not the law. No imported rule is not evidence that an ingredient is permitted: a rule may exist under another name or identifier, or in a dataset not yet imported here.
Chemical identity and properties
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
2-Butanone is a manufactured chemical but it is also present in the environment from natural sources. It is a colorless liquid with a sharp, sweet odor. It is also known as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). 2-Butanone is produced in large quantities. Nearly half of its use is in paints and other coatings because it will quickly evaporate into the air and it dissolves many substances. It is also used in glues and as a cleaning agent. 2-Butanone occurs as a natural product. It is made by some trees and found in some fruits and vegetables in small amounts. It is also released to the air from car and truck exhausts. — Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
- IUPAC name
- butan-2-one
- Molecular formula
- C4H8O
- Molecular weight
- 72.11 g/mol
- Exact mass
- 72.057514874 Da
- XLogP3
- 0.3
- Topological polar surface area
- 17.1 Ų
- Hydrogen-bond donors
- 0
- Hydrogen-bond acceptors
- 1
- Covalent units
- 1
- Defined stereocentres
- 0
Also known as
16 more reported names
External database identifiers
- ChEBI:CHEBI:28398
- ChEMBL:CHEMBL15849
- EPA DTXSID:DTXSID3021516
- PubMed:33358762
- PubMed:33064461
- PubMed:23082109
- PubMed:23065996
- PubMed:22987591
- PubMed:22929904
- PubMed:22925878
- PubMed:22901407
- PubMed:22732480
- PubMed:22726261
- PubMed:22698369
- PubMed:22696799
Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.
Inventory details for MEK
INCI name
MEK
Description
Butanone
Record provenance
- Inventory reference
- 35196
- Imported identity
- MEK
- Source update
- 15/10/2010
Annex records for MEK
Key data
Official EU ingredient-name evidence
The ingredient name exactly matches the official 2025 EU glossary of common ingredient names.
Related inventory evidence
Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions
Additional official and scientific sources
11 external databases to check this identity in
Each link searches that source for this identity. What each source is, and its legal weight
How MEK appears in the CosIng inventory
The CosIng inventory lists MEK as a cosmetic ingredient and this page links it to 0 annex records. The inventory entry captures names and identifiers, while the annex records show where the substance is prohibited, restricted or positively listed in EU cosmetics law.
MEK is also tagged with 2 cosmetic functions in the official data. Function labels describe intended use, but they do not replace regulatory review of linked annex records before formulation or labelling work.
Frequently asked questions
Source note for MEK
This page reproduces the CosIng inventory entry for MEK from public European Commission cosmetic ingredient materials and shows linked identifiers even when no direct annex match is currently attached.
Use this inventory page to research MEK and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.
Tools & next steps
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