Summary. Cyclohexane (CAS 110-82-7) is a hydrocarbon ring. Cyclohexanone (CAS 108-94-1) is its ketone. Cyclohexanol and methylcyclohexane are two further relatives. The names differ by a few letters but the chemicals, hazards and uses differ. Always quote the CAS number when you enquire, and check it against the TDS and the batch Certificate of Analysis.
Why these four names get mixed up
All four chemicals are built on a six-carbon ring, and their names share the same stem. On an enquiry or a purchase order a missing syllable changes the product entirely. SPC lists cyclohexane and cyclohexanone as separate products with separate pages. Cyclohexanol and methylcyclohexane are not listed product pages; if you need either, ask us before assuming we handle it.
The four chemicals side by side
| Chemical | What it is | CAS number | Formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyclohexane | Saturated hydrocarbon ring (cycloalkane) | 110-82-7 | C6H12 |
| Cyclohexanone | Cyclic ketone (carbonyl group on the ring) | 108-94-1 | C6H10O |
| Cyclohexanol | Cyclic alcohol (hydroxyl group on the ring) | 108-93-0 | C6H12O |
| Methylcyclohexane | Cyclohexane ring with one methyl group | 108-87-2 | C7H14 |
The first two rows are the products SPC lists. The cyclohexanol and methylcyclohexane figures are general reference values, not SPC specifications; confirm them against your own documents.
Cyclohexane: the hydrocarbon solvent
Cyclohexane is a non-polar solvent used for resins, fats, oils and waxes, in paint and coating formulations, in rubber compounding and adhesives, and as a feedstock for caprolactam and nylon-6 intermediates. SPC supplies technical Solvent Grade, with GSFC named as maker on the TDS, 98.0% mass minimum cyclohexane content and benzene capped at 0.02% mass. Transport classification is UN 1145, Class 3, Packing Group II, and the HSN code printed on the TDS is 2902 11 00. Details are on the cyclohexane product page.
What the impurities tell you
Methylcyclohexane is itself one of the limits on the cyclohexane TDS (0.2% mass max), alongside methyl cyclopentane, moisture, low boiling products and benzene. So methylcyclohexane appears as a minor impurity in cyclohexane, not as a substitute for it.
Cyclohexanone: the ketone solvent
Cyclohexanone is the ketone derivative and a separate SPC product, supplied at min 99.5% (GSFC) in 180 kg mild steel drums. See the cyclohexanone product page for its grade, uses and documents. Its limits are its own and must never be read across to cyclohexane.
Cyclohexanol and methylcyclohexane
Cyclohexanol is the cyclic alcohol, with a hydroxyl group on the ring. Methylcyclohexane is a hydrocarbon with one extra carbon on the ring. Neither has a product page on our site, so if you need either, tell us the CAS number and intended use and we will tell you whether it is something we handle before quoting.
How to read the cyclohexane TDS and batch CoA
SPC's cyclohexane technical data sheet is numbered SPC-TDS-ARO-002. It states the grade (Solvent Grade, caprolactam-route), the maker, the packing and six limits, all as % mass: cyclohexane purity 98.0 min, moisture 0.05 max, methyl cyclopentane 0.2 max, methyl cyclohexane 0.2 max, low boiling products 0.8 max and benzene 0.02 max. The basis is the manufacturer's Certificate of Analysis from GSFC's Central Laboratory, cross-checked with GSFC's published specification.
- Start with the identity lines. The CAS number and formula on the TDS and the CoA must match the chemical you meant to order: 110-82-7 and C6H12 for cyclohexane.
- Read purity as a minimum. 98.0% mass min is a floor. The batch Certificate of Analysis supplied with every delivery gives the figure for your lot.
- Look at benzene. It is capped at 0.02% mass max. If your own quality plan sets a tighter limit, say so in the enquiry before you order.
- Treat the TDS as indicative. The batch CoA governs, and the SDS physical values are literature values.
For a similar walk-through on another solvent, see how to read a toluene specification and CoA.
Handling and hazard differences
Cyclohexane is a highly flammable liquid and vapour (Flam. Liq. 2, H225) with signal word DANGER. The SDS also lists H304 (may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways), H315, H336 and H410, and the transport entry is UN 1145, Class 3, Packing Group II. SDS literature values give a closed-cup flash point of about -18 C, a boiling point of about 80.7 C and a vapour density of about 2.9, so the vapour is heavier than air; the batch Certificate of Analysis governs. Store it in tightly closed containers, cool and well ventilated, away from ignition sources; ground and bond containers during transfer, and keep it away from strong oxidisers, concentrated acids and halogens.
Cyclohexanone is a different material with its own SDS and its own physical data. Do not copy hazard statements, UN numbers or flash points from one product's SDS to the other, and do not assume that cyclohexanol or methylcyclohexane share them either. Read the classification from the SDS supplied with each product.
How to check you are ordering the right one
| Check | Cyclohexane | Cyclohexanone |
|---|---|---|
| CAS number | 110-82-7 | 108-94-1 |
| Formula | C6H12 | C6H10O |
| SPC grade | Solvent Grade, 98.0% min | Min 99.5% |
Misorder checklist
- Write the CAS number on every purchase order and enquiry, not only the product name.
- Match the formula on the TDS and the batch Certificate of Analysis against the CAS number.
- Confirm the CAS number and formula on the drum label and on the CoA before use. Pack size does not prove identity.
- Check that the UN number on the SDS fits your handling set-up. Cyclohexane is UN 1145.
- Compare the HSN code on the invoice with the code you declare; confirm it with your customs adviser before booking an import or a dispatch.
- If a document names a different compound from your order, stop and ask before use.
Cyclohexane versus hexane
A fifth look-alike is hexane. It is the straight-chain six-carbon alkane, a different solvent with different evaporation and solvency behaviour, and SPC lists food-grade hexane separately on the hexane (food grade) page. The two are not interchangeable without checking your process. The question behind the search is usually diagnostic: a ring is more compact than a chain, so the two do not evaporate or dissolve material in the same way, and a trial on your own formulation is the only safe test. If you are comparing cyclohexane with an aromatic solvent instead, the toluene page sets out that product's own grades and documents.
Where the ring chemistry meets your paperwork
Most misorders are paperwork errors rather than chemistry errors. A purchase order names one product, the supplier's quote names another, and the invoice carries a third code. Keeping the CAS number, formula and HSN code together on one line in your own order sheet removes most of the risk. When the CAS number on a quote does not match your order, ask for a corrected quote rather than approving it as a close enough substitute.
Technical grade only
SPC's cyclohexane is a technical solvent grade. It is not food grade or pharma grade, and it is not an AR, HPLC or ACS reagent. If your process needs a regulated grade, say so in the enquiry so we can answer honestly.
Get a quote
Send the CAS number, quantity, pack and delivery location by WhatsApp on +91 86087 80096 or through the enquiry form. We quote within 4 working hours, and a batch Certificate of Analysis is supplied with every delivery. SPC is a Chennai importer and bulk distributor, not a manufacturer.
Sources
Cyclohexane data: SPC TDS SPC-TDS-ARO-002 and the cyclohexane SDS (sections 1, 2, 7, 9 and 14). Cyclohexanone data: SPC's cyclohexanone product page and HSN reference. Cyclohexanol and methylcyclohexane CAS numbers and formulas are general chemistry reference values, not SPC specifications, and should be confirmed against a reference such as PubChem before use. The redirect from the old combined address is set in the site configuration.