N-Butanol, sometimes called 1-butanol, stands out as a colorless liquid carrying a distinct alcoholic odor. You spot the formula C4H10O on the label, which shows it comes with four carbon atoms, ten hydrogens, and one oxygen. The simple-looking structure seems almost unremarkable at first glance: CH3CH2CH2CH2OH. Yet, this liquid fills an important role in chemical plants and factories. Its specific density clocks in around 0.81 g/cm³, not far off from gasoline, and it flows with a viscosity that keeps it from feeling sticky like syrup or as thin as water. It melts at -89.8°C and boils at 117.7°C, allowing for safe storage and a fair range of uses without sudden vapor loss. Chemists pay attention to its flash point, too, at 35°C, which means open flames and careless sparks cause trouble.
N-Butanol’s character sits in the way its molecule behaves. With the hydroxyl group (-OH) stuck at the end of its chain, it plays well with water — but not too well. You’ll see some water dissolve in it, and vice versa. In a glass beaker, it won’t settle into little pearls like mercury or flakes like caustic potash, nor will it present itself as a soft powder, gritty solid, or bright crystal. N-Butanol keeps its place as a straightforward, transparent liquid at room temperature. No clumping, no crystallizing, just a thick, boozy run from bottle to graduated cylinder. Handling it invites a set of safety concerns, too. If you get careless, the sharp aroma hits your nose and throat fast, and extended contact means eye irritation, dizziness, and headaches. Spilling it on skin brings irritation, though not as harsh as some other solvents. These features mean storing N-butanol far from heat, good ventilation, and chemical-resistant gloves matters.
Factories depend on n-butanol as both a solvent and a backbone ingredient. You’ll find it blended into paints, coatings, varnishes, and inks, carrying pigments and additives without leaving behind grime or residue. It breaks down greases and makes a solid carrier for dyes. Its role reaches deeper, since it forms the starting point or intermediate for butyl acrylate, butyl acetate, and glycol ethers. In these reactions, n-butanol reacts away into new shapes — its plain four-carbon chain making way for longer or branched chemicals. While you don’t see flakes, pearls, or powder on the shelf, you’ll bump into lighter, volatile fumes as it escapes open containers, especially in humid factories. That volatility means chemical goggles and fresh air count for something. For people working around n-butanol, masks and fume hoods provide real value, not just ticking a safety box.
Moving N-Butanol across borders or selling it in bulk brings up the numbers. The HS Code tags it as 29051300, letting customs track and tax shipments across continents. You spot barrels marked by gross and net weights, purity levels (sometimes above 99% in the best runs), and impurity listings. It matters for everything from pharmaceuticals to perfumes, since one stray hint of water or another alcohol can throw off downstream steps. The chemical formula looks plain, but behind it hides the expectation that every batch keeps its density, boiling point, and minimum flash point right on the invoice. Companies trace every lot number and drum back to the shipper if something smells off or performance changes. It’s on-hand at 200-liter drums, not in powders, not in crystal, but ready to pour or siphon. You won’t find it on an everyday grocery shelf; safety and proper paperwork control who gets to touch or move it.
Treating n-butanol with respect goes beyond wearing gloves and goggles. Its fumes wander quickly, giving headaches or setting off mild to moderate intoxication and central nervous system effects — much like drinking spirits, but less enjoyable and more likely to end in a trip to the nurse. It’s neither the most dangerous nor the safest chemical around. Add open flame or static discharge, and this liquid can set off flash fires in labs and factories, especially where ventilation stumbles. You don’t leave containers open, and you don’t store it near sparks or acids that turn it unstable. While toxic in high doses, n-butanol doesn’t carve out a label as carcinogenic or bioaccumulative in regular settings. Still, responsible handling — grounded drums, checked seals, and well-trained people — makes the difference between steady use and costly accidents.
I’ve walked through workshops filled with drums of n-butanol, watched workers handle sticky hoses, and seen the scramble in a spill. Quick decisions and proper gear keep people healthy and processes running. This chemical doesn’t shout for attention, but it quietly supports paints, plastics, and a lot of everyday goods. It stands as a reminder that knowing the basics — from the formula and density to hazard codes and safe storage — turns a simple, almost invisible liquid into a core tool for industry. Problems don’t usually show up with loud warnings; they creep in through small mistakes or forgotten checks. Training counts more than paper rules. Safe handling comes from habits built day by day, not from a poster on the wall. Each drum and each transfer carries the risk and the promise found in the clear, strong-smelling liquid named n-butanol.
