Why Does Polystyrene Dissolve In Acetone

Acetone is a relatively non-polar solvent (as compared to water, which is highly polar), and Styrofoam is made from polystyrene and foam. Due to their similar polarities, acetone can dissolve the carbon-hydrogen bonds of Styrofoam. This is because acetone is present in both nail polish remover and nail polish.

Why does polystyrene dissolve in acetone and not water?

Since polystyrene only contains carbon hydrogen bonds, it is nonpolar and will only dissolve in nonpolar solvents, because like dissolves like. This is why the non-polar polystyrene dissolves in acetone but not water and the polar starch molecules dissolve in water but not acetone.

What happens when acetone is added to polystyrene?

The acetone (formula (CH3)2CO) breaks the bonds that hold the polystyrene together. And, because styrofoam is mostly pockets of air, when the bonds are broken the air can escape. As the air escapes the volume of the styrofoam decreases.

How does polystyrene dissolve?

Polystyrene is a polymer that is actually a type of plastic. 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. In other words, when you combine Styrofoam and acetone, the polystyrene will completely dissolve!.

Why does acetone burn Styrofoam?

Acetone melts styrofoam because it is a very good solvent for polystyrene, the material that styrofoam is made from. Polystyrene is made from the monomer styrene, an organic compound, which is catalyzed and turns into polystyrene, a solid plastic which is readily soluble in acetone.

Why does Styrofoam dissolve in water?

The styrofoam is a non-polar substance, it does not have a charge. In one beaker there is water, which is polar (they have both positive and negative charges). The styrofoam will not dissolve because it is non-polar, polar and non-polar do not mix.

Does polystyrene dissolve in water?

Polystyrene Names Boiling point 430 °C (806 °F; 703 K) and depolymerizes Solubility in water Insoluble Solubility Soluble in benzene, carbon disulfide, chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons, chloroform, cyclohexanone, dioxane, ethyl acetate, ethylbenzene, MEK, NMP, THF Thermal conductivity 0.033 W/(m·K) (foam, ρ 0.05 g/cm 3 ).

What is polystyrene soluble in?

Solubility: soluble in most organic solvents (ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, DMF, DMSO, THF, and toluene). Insoluble in water, low molecular weight alcohols, diethyl ether, and hexanes.

What happens when you melt Styrofoam?

Styrofoam is polystyrene, so melting polystyrene gives liquid styrene. The fumes of styrene are moderately toxic when inhaled. In practice, it is not easy to melt polystyrene without burning it, except in a lab.

How much Styrofoam can you dissolve in acetone?

Since Styrofoam is mostly air, you may be surprised by how much (or, in the end, how little) foam will dissolve in the acetone. A cup of acetone is enough to dissolve an entire bean bag’s worth of styrofoam beads.

Will MEK dissolve polystyrene?

Polystyrene is soluble in acetone, MEK and other ketones, but solubility and the speed with which it dissolves depends, in part, on the molecular mass of the polymer. If the solvent diffuses very slowly into the polystyrene, only the surface will appear to be affected.

Can thinner dissolve polystyrene?

Solvent Dissolving and Evaporation When the solvent evaporates, the remaining molecules recombine into a solid. In the case of Styrofoam and turpentine, the solvent evaporates, releasing most of the air bubbles in the plastic foam into the ambient air and leaving behind a lump of solid polystyrene.

What can dissolve in acetone?

Acetone is a colourless liquid with a distinct odour. It is highly flammable. Acetone is used to dissolve other chemical substances and mixes readily with water, alcohol, dimethylformamide, chloroform, ether and most oils.

Does petrol dissolve polystyrene?

YES, gasoline will dissolve Styrofoam.

What happens if you mix acetone and bleach?

In this example, mixing acetone with bleach creates toxic chemicals that could further react with any remaining bleach to create a fatal fume cloud. This reaction happens spontaneously and without warning. Mixing these two will form a corrosive, toxic chemical known as peracetic acid.

Why does Styrofoam float?

Styrofoam floats in water because it is less dense than water. That is, anything less dense than water will float, while anything more dense will sink.

Can you melt polystyrene with hot water?

The melting point of polystyrene is much higher than the 100 °C (212 °F) boiling point of water, at about 240 °C (464 °F).

Does methanol dissolve polystyrene?

Adapted from: Brandrup, J., and E.H. Immergut, eds. 1975. Polymer Handbook, Second Edition.Solubility (S=Soluble, I=Insoluble) Solvent Class Alcohols Solvent Methanol Polystyrene I PMMA I.

How long does it take polystyrene to decompose?

Non-Biodegradable Pollutant It is unknown how long it takes for polystyrene to biodegrade. Some experts estimate the decomposition of Styrofoam to 500 years, with limited recycling options.

Why are nonpolar compounds soluble in acetone?

this is because the non polar methyl groups present in acetone. so in short : acetone dissolves in both polar and non-polar substances because it has both polar and non-polar parts . it has two methyl groups, which are non-polar , but it also has a polar carbonyl (C=O) group.

What solvents are used to dissolve polystyrene?

please try Acetone is good solvent for polystyrene. Also Chloroform, benzene and toluene are good solvent. PS is soluble in THF, DMF and Toluene and EPS(expanded polystyrene/styrofoam) is soluble in DCM and DCE.

Does polystyrene dissolve in alcohol?

So: polystyrene is inherently easier to dissolve in any solvent. Isopropanol will tend to dissolve hydrogen bonding solutes where acetone just doesn’t care about that.

Does acid dissolve polystyrene?

Vinegar and more specifically “weak acids” will not dissolve styrofoam (the frequently used designation for foamed cups etc.). Acids will soften the thin walls of the plastic bubbles that make up foamed polystyrene. The bubbles can collapse if the exposure amount and time is enough.