Water is the element that keeps life going on. Without water, no living organisms can survive. It is the basic need of living beings. Acetone is a substance that looks like water.
But acetone is just a mere element if compared to water. Both terms fulfil the need of living beings.
Key Takeaways
- Acetone is an organic solvent, while water is a universal solvent and an inorganic compound.
- Acetone evaporates quickly and is highly flammable, whereas water has a higher boiling point and is not flammable.
- Acetone effectively dissolves many substances like fats, oils, and resins, while water dissolves polar and ionic substances.
Acetone vs Water
The difference between acetone and water is that acetone is a chemical that has organic compounds, while water is a natural resource and has inorganic compounds. Acetone is used to perform several activities of physical needs. Water is used for both physical and the particular needs of the body.
Acetone is a liquid that has a very strong smell. Acetone does not have any color like water. It is mostly used to make the paint thinner, manufacture various chemicals, clean metallic things, etc.
Acetone also removes paint from the nails and glue from other surfaces. Acetone is used widely by users.
Water is known to be an inorganic compound found on 75 percent surface of the earth. It is one of the most essential elements for all living beings on earth.
The concept of life is implausible without the existence of water. In the whole Solar system, only the Earth provides consumable water.
Comparison Table
| Parameters Of Comparison | Acetone | Water |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Acetone is described as a ketone that has highly inflammable properties. It is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. | Water is an inorganic liquid without taste, smell, color particles. Water is transparent and can be found in different forms. |
| Formula | The scientific or chemical formula used to signify acetone is C3H6O. | The scientific or chemical formula used to signify water is H2O. |
| Sources | To produce acetone, the raw material of propylene and benzene is used so the cumene can be obtained. | Water itself is a natural source. Many water extraction techniques are used to send water to dry areas. |
| Usage | The use of acetone includes remover of nail polish and paint. It is also used in the production of plastic. | There are countless uses of water such as drinking, irrigation, production of energy, domestic needs, etc. |
| Amount in the human body | When the fat in the body breaks down, it results in the production of acetone. This amount is very less. | The body of a human is made of up to 70 to 75 percent of water which is quite enough. |
What is Acetone?
Acetone is a chemical that is used for various purposes. It is normally used as a nail polish remover or paint remover. Interestingly, when the fat in a human body breaks down, it also produces acetone.
But if the amount of acetone increases in this situation, it can be a serious problem. The quantity of acetone can occur in both humans and animals.
The density of acetone is 784 kg/m³. In science, it is classified as ketone, an organic compound. Many substitutes are also available for acetone, such as MIBK, xylene, Isopropyl alcohol, Toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, etc.
Acetone is considered to be a dipolar molecule. Also, having a polar bond, acetone is known to be a polar molecule.
The scientific formula for acetone is C3H6O. Andreas Libavius introduced acetone in 1606. He distilled acetate. In modern times, propylene is used to produce acetone directly or indirectly.
The cumene process is adopted for the production of acetone. Almost 80% of production is done by cumene procedure.
The benzene is alkylated in the cumene procedure with propylene to oxidize by air. The same procedure is used to produce phenol. Acetone is used as a cyanohydrin solvent worldwide.
What is Water?
An earthly substance that does not have any color, taste, odour is known to be water. Water is an inorganic liquid that flows all over the earth. The scientific formula for water is H₂O, with a density of 997 kg/m³.
There are two hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom consists of one molecule of water.
Water has been divided into three forms that are liquid, solid, and gas. In the form of gas, water is found in the atmosphere of the Earth. In the form of liquid, water is found in rivers, oceans, underground water, fountains, etc.
Lastly, in the form of solid, water is found as ice on mountains and the North and South pole of the earth. It doesn’t matter the form, water is a very necessary element for life.
Living organisms will disappear within some time if there is no water available. Interestingly, it doesn’t provide any particular nutrients, calories, or vitamins, yet it is the most essential part of human life.
Water transforms into a cloud by the evaporation process from the ocean and comes down in the form of little droplets on the different surfaces of the earth. This procedure is known as the water cycle.
Main Differences Between Acetone and Water
- The boiling point of acetone is 56 Degrees Celsius. On the other hand, the boiling point of water is 100 Degree Celsius.
- If acetone is inhaled mistakenly, it can cause intoxication and dizziness, while water has 0 toxic components, it is the least toxic element.
- Acetone is found in various volcanic gases, plants, animals, forest fires, etc. Whereas water is found on almost 75% of the surface of the earth.
- C3H6O is the scientific formula of acetone. On the other hand, H2O is the scientific formula of water.
- The melting point of acetone is -95 Degree Celsius. On the other hand, the melting point of water is 0 Degrees Celsius.
- https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/93JD00764
- https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.1201/9781315276106/water-technology-nick-gray
Last Updated : 23 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
Acetone is hazardous, even deadly under certain circumstances, and it’s really alarming that it is used so widely. Water consumption should be prioritized, as water is the essence of life.
I disagree, while acetone has its dangers, it’s also a necessity in various industrial processes and even in the medical field.
One fact that seems worth mentioning is that while acetone is a necessary element for industrial use, the sheer importance of water in sustaining living organisms cannot be overstated.
Absolutely, it is evident that the hazards associated with acetone make water a far superior and indispensable element for organisms and the ecological balance.
Water is the essence of life itself, with its countless uses, water is an inorganic compound that essential for the life of every organism, whist acetone in its own right is a very useful component for manufacturing various products. The two substances are essential for human wellbeing,
Acetone is a useful element in manufacturing and other fields, but we can’t overlook the fact that water is an inorganic liquid essential for life itself, the importance and necessity of water are simply incomparable.
It is fascinating how water, a simple molecule with such extraordinary properties, is the very foundation of life and the most essential element to sustain life. Comparing it with acetone only highlights its significance even more.
The fact that water is a solvent that dissolves polar and ionic substances really exemplifies its critical role in the environment and its importance for life, whereas acetone is limited to dissolving fats and resins.