Types of Solvent

Solvents can be classed as organic or inorganic materials.

Water, the simplest and most abundant solvent on earth is classed as an inorganic solvent as its chemical structure does not contain carbon.

Organic solvents (containing carbon) are classified by their chemical structure, of which there are three main types;

Hydrocarbon solvents (aliphatic and aromatic)

Oxygenated solvents (alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, glycol ethers, esters, glycol ether esters)

Halogenated solvents (chlorinated and brominated hydrocarbons)