why does styrofoam dissolve in acetone

This dissolving and … Let it set overnight or even several days. Then … Materials for demo 039 1. Styrofoam dissolves in acetone in a similar way to how sugar dissolves in water. It is a physical rather than a chemical reaction. It is a physical rather than a chemical reaction. When the polystyrene dissolves in the acetone, the air in the foam is released, causing it to look like you're dissolving this massive quantity of material into a small volume of liquid. this happens because the acetone and the Styrofoam cup share the same properties -- they are both non-polar. Other non polar substances include, nail polish remover, gasoline, oil, fat , grease, etc. Once the styrofoam is fully dissolved it is stretchy and fun to play with. Observe the reaction between the acetone and the Styrofoam. The acetone and styrofoam solution also make an awesome slime when combined. Science Fair Project Ideas for Kids, Middle & High School Students, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Polymers, Polymer Properties Database: Polystyrenes. Acetone is a chemical that dissolves Styrofoam. So when you dissolve a styrofoam cup with lemon oil all you have really shown is that lemon oil is a good organic solvent. The … No surprise here, its not really something to promote, seriously. If you do not have acetone, you can use gasoline or just about any other organic solvent to easily dissolve Styrofoam. Putting Styrofoam in acetone will dissolve how to do it is easy. The reaction between Styrofoam and acetone shows how soluble this plastic is in an organic solvent and how much air is in Styrofoam. I mean, if you take gasoline and put in a styrofoam cup it will do the same thing, but you don't recommend taking gasoline internally, at least I hope you don't LOL. It is popular in plastics manufacturing, industrial cleaning products and some household liquids, such as nail polish remover. The air contained in the plastic foam leaves it, … The video, uploaded by YouTube channel Let's Melt This, shows acetone — commonly used as nail polish remover — dissolving a Styrofoam cup on a plate. Always wear safety glasses, and wash your hands wel… Claire is a writer and editor with 18 years' experience. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies.Learn More, So I have a pretty basic understanding of solubility, basically like dissolves like. Styrofoam is made up of polystyrene foam. Pour the acetone into the container, then slowly add pieces of Styrofoam. When the polystyrene dissolves in the acetone, the air in the foam is released. Styrofoam is actually a trade name, used generically to describe polystyrene foam, a polymer made of a long chain of molecules. Does Fish Oil Dissolve Styrofoam? The youth hobbyists overseas CAN get lacquer thinners–which dissolves & thins styrofoam to an actual, ‘paintable’ liquid. This can be used to point out that the packing peanuts are made mostly air with only a little polymer which is seen in the bottom of the flask. The acetone splits up the long chain of molecules, and the air disappears, causing the volume to shrink radically. –Solvent—does the dissolving (acetone) ... styrofoam cup with acetate?) The chemical system we're considering is the polystyrene in your styrofoam. Take styrofoam beads, packing peanuts, chunks of styrofoam, or even a styrofoam cup and add it to the container of acetone. METHOD 1. How then does acetone reduce this substance to a blob of goo? b. All oil (fish oil, olive oil, canola oil, etc.) In other words, the polystyrene dissolves in the acetone. Acetone is an organic compound with the formula (CH3)2CO. The answer lies in intermolecular forces, the attractive forces that hold molecules together. Maybe oxygen has to do with the extreme polarity of acetone, which means that it has an affinity for polystyrene. read more. Styrofoam is actually a common name for a material called polystyrene, which is a polymer made up of a long chain of molecules. It is a physical rather than a chemical reaction. The acetone (formula (CH3)2CO) breaks the bonds that hold the polystyrene together. Interesting thing to note, when dissolving styrofoam in acetone, the solution gets really cold to the touch. Add some styrofoam to acetone in a closed container. Styrofoam often makes up drink holders and insulating materials, as it is a poor conductor of heat. Foam cups, bowls and containers are made of a lightweight but strong material – expanded polystyrene. Remember that polystyrene is made up of many smaller molecules called monostyrene. So my question is why does acetone dissolve styrofoam when they appear to be a mix of polar/non-polar? It is injected with gases during the manufacturing process and becomes extremely lightweight, with about 95 percent air. Only do this in a well-ventialted area. 0 0. Like dissolves like. This disappearance is in fact a dissolving, and the Styrofoam molecules become interspersed in the acetone. The Styrofoam does not completely disappear, even though it looks like it has. Since Styrofoam is … Others do it much slower. This is why the non-polar polystyrene dissolves in acetone but not water and the polar starch molecules dissolve in water but not acetone. She writes about science and health for a range of digital publications, including Reader's Digest, HealthCentral, Vice and Zocdoc. This is because acetone is a solvent that breaks down Styrofoam. I hope you enjoy this science experiment. This is because acetone is a solvent that breaks down Styrofoam. In this week’s video, we team up with chemistry professor Matt Hartings, Ph.D., to explain this weird phenomenon. Since Styrofoam is mostly air, you may be surprised by how much (or, in the end, how little) foam will dissolve in the acetone. While Styrofoam does not decompose quickly or easily, acetone makes it seem to disappear in seconds. Yes, acetone dissolves Styrofoam. Finally: See what happens when you put more than one cup into the acetone at the same time.. Here’s What’s Happening! Another way of doing this is to pour acetone directly onto a piece of Styrofoam. A cup of acetone is enough to dissolve an entire bean bag's worth of styrofoam beads. Do the experiment in a fume hood or well-ventilated room, and wear safety glasses and gloves. Polarity is Why Oil and Styrofoam Interact. Put a piece of Styrofoam in it 4. The Styrofoam will dissolve in the acetone much like sugar dissolves in hot water. Styrofoam is made of polystyrene foam. The air in the foam leaves, and because Styrofoam consists mainly of air, when it dissolves in acetone it completely loses its structure. The acetone breaks up the long chain of molecules, and the air goes away, hence the volume shrinks radically. Basically, it looks like a huge amount of material is dissolving in a small amount of liquid. Simply so, why does acetone dissolve Styrofoam? Acetone and Styrofoam! However, acetone is too polar to be a very good solvent for non polar poly styrene. the Styrofoam cup turns into liquid form. But surely it has to do with polystyrene's being a thermoplastic straight-chain polymer that is soluble in solvents. So, the correct question is: Why does acetone dissolve styrofoam? Styrofoam is made of polystyrene foam. Rather, the polystyrene molecules are actually present in the acetone solution. The air in the foam leaves, and because Styrofoam consists mainly of air, when it dissolves in acetone it completely loses its structure. CP to ELI5. The styrofoam will dissolve in the acetone much like sugar dissolves in hot water. : Hi guys! Why is Styrofoam impervious to water, even very hot water, but it turns into a gooey mess immediately on contact with acetone? Notice how much of the Styrofoam cup is left after it shrinks. It is a physical rather than a chemical reaction. This makes it look like you're dissolving a massive quantity of material into a small volume of liquid. And, because styrofoam is mostly pockets of air, when the bonds are broken the air can escape. Also to know is, what happens when you mix acetone and Styrofoam? Some types of fish oil will dissolve Styrofoam very fast. The slightly charged parts of water molecules attract the ions in the ionic compounds and surround them, separating them from the crystal surface and drawing them into the solution. The air in the foam leaves, and because Styrofoam consists mainly of air, when it dissolves in acetone it completely loses its structure. Even good solvents can take a while to dissolve a polymer. I have been doing research on this topic for a quite a while now .95% of people are concentrating in the fact that Styrofoam dissolve in Acetone. Some types of spray paint, as well as gasoline, will also dissolve Styrofoam. When the polystyrene is introduced in the acetone, it just dissolves like food colouring dissolves in water. While Styrofoam does not decompose quickly or easily, acetone makes it seem to disappear in seconds. Styrofoam dissolves in acetone in a similar way to how sugar dissolves in water. Acetone is a flammable, colorless liquid that is most commonly used for removing nail polish. I googled this, and I found something that said it was related to cohesive energy densities, and that this term is related to polarity, but I'm still confused. The air in the foam evaporates, and because Styrofoam consists mainly of air, it completely loses its structure. How It Works . A colorless, flammable solvent, it mixes easily with water and evaporates quickly in air. The acetone splits up the long chain of molecules, and the air disappears, causing the volume to shrink radically. Acetone will not make Styrofoam hard. An experiment with acetone, Styrofoam and a glass bowl or measuring cup shows how much air is in Styrofoam and has pretty magical results. The Styrofoam does not completely disappear, even though it looks like it has. MATERIALS 14 pieces of Styrofoam, each weighing 0.3 grams Acetone A larger container Timer Calculator. Styrofoam dissolves in acetone in a similar way to how sugar dissolves in water. Styrofoam dissolves in acetone in a similar way to how sugar dissolves in water. Measure the time it takes for the Styrofoam to dissolve 5. Acetone can dissolve a plastic or Styrofoam cup. The acetone is a solvent that easily breaks down the polystyrene, releasing the little air pockets trapped inside and leaving very little residue at the end. You need: -Acetone -Styrofoam -A metal or glass container Safety advisory: Acetone fumes are flammable. The plastic dissolves in just about any organic solvent, not just acetone. If you have ever wanted to make something vanish as if by magic, all you need is acetone and Styrofoam. Subscribe to my 2nd channel: https://youtube.com/channel/UCq2UyupGA33N6ezKKRgKHfQWhat will happen if you pour acetone onto styrofoam?! Have you ever seen a foam cup appear to melt away in acetone? Styrofoam is mostly air so when a small amount of plastic dissolves, the … When combined the Styrofoam seems to disappear inside the acetone. Gather materials 2. You can use a large piece of Styrofoam, Styrofoam beads or even a Styrofoam cup. If I increase the volume of acetone, then the Styrofoam will dissolve faster because there will be more liquid. To carry out an experiment with Styrofoam and acetone, all you need is a large bowl or measuring glass. read more The acetone splits up the long chain of molecules, and the air disappears, causing the volume to shrink radically. From my basic understanding of electronegativity and molecule shape acetone is a polar molecule, and styrene, and I'm guessing from this polystyrene is non-polar. , we team up with chemistry professor Matt Hartings, Ph.D., to explain this weird phenomenon easily Styrofoam! Dissolving Styrofoam or another polystyrene product in acetone is enough to dissolve a Styrofoam cup the... Is: Why does acetone reduce this substance to a blob of goo monostyrene. Is done the polystyrene together have really shown is that lemon oil all you need is a good solvent... This is to pour acetone directly onto a piece of Styrofoam, Styrofoam beads packing... 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