A colourless flammable volatile compound, CH₃COCH₃; r.d. 0.79; m.p. –95.4°C; b.p. 56.2°C. The simplest ketone, propanone is miscible with water. It is made by oxidation of propan-2-ol (see propanol) or is obtained as a by-product in the manufacture of phenol from cumene; it is used as a solvent and as a raw material for making plastics.