CHEM 109A CLAS

The Dielectric Constants of Some Common Solvents*

Dielectric
Solvent Structure Abbreviation Constant (, @ Polarity B.P. (oC)
25oC)
Protic Solvents
O
Water H H
- 79 100
Formic acid HO O
- 59 100.6
Methanol MeOH 33 64.7

OH

Ethanol OH EtOH 25 78.3

tert-Butyl alcohol OH tert-BuOH 11 82.3

Acetic acid HO HOAc 6 117.9

O
Aprotic Solvents
O

Dimethyl sulfoxide S DMSO 47 189

Acetonitrile N MeCN 38 81.6

Dimethylformamide O N
DMF 37 153

Hexamethylphosphoric O P N HMPA 30 233

acid triamide
N

Acetone

Dichloromethane

Tetrahydrofuran
Cl
O
O

Cl
Me2CO

THF
21

9.1

7.6
56.3

40

66
O

Ethyl acetate EtOAc 6 77.1

O
Diethyl ether O Et2O 4.3 34.6

Benzene - 2.3 80.1

Hexane - 1.9 68.7

* Table 8.7, pg 376 of Bruice 5th Ed. Page 1 of 1