DISSOLVE STYROFOAM IN ACETONE - Styrofoam or Polystyrene in Acetone - Dissolving Styrofoam or another polystyrene product in acetone is a spectacular demonstration of the solubility of this plastic in an organic solvent. It also illustrates just how much air is in the Styrofoam. Pour a bit of acetone into a bowl, and place Styrofoam beads, packing peanuts, chunks of foam, or even a Styrofoam cup in the container. The Styrofoam will dissolve in the acetone much like sugar dissolves in hot water. 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. Styrofoam is made of polystyrene foam. When the polystyrene dissolves in the acetone, the air in the foam is released. This makes it look like you're dissolving a massive quantity of material into a small volume of liquid. You can see a less-dramatic version of the same effect by dissolving other polystyrene items in acetone. Common polystyrene products include disposable razors, plastic yogurt containers, plastic mailers, and CD jewel cases. The plastic dissolves in just about any organic solvent, not just acetone. Acetone is found in some nail polish removers. You could dissolve styrofoam in gasoline just as easily. It's best to do this project outdoors because acetone, gasoline, and other organic solvents tend to be toxic when inhaled.

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Dissolve Styrofoam in Acetone

Styrofoam or Polystyrene in Acetone

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Dissolving Styrofoam or another polystyrene product in acetone is a spectacular demonstration of the solubility of this plastic in an organic solvent.

It also illustrates just how much air is in the Styrofoam.

All you need to do is to pour a bit of acetone into a bowl, and place Styrofoam beads, packing peanuts, chunks of foam, or even a Styrofoam cup in the container.

The Styrofoam will dissolve in the acetone much like sugar dissolves in hot water.

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.

How It Works

Styrofoam is made of polystyrene foam. When the polystyrene dissolves in the acetone, the air in the foam is released.

This makes it look like you're dissolving a massive quantity of material into a small volume of liquid.

You can see a less-dramatic version of the same effect by dissolving other polystyrene items in acetone.

Common polystyrene products include disposable razors, plastic yogurt containers, plastic mailers, and CD jewel cases.

The plastic dissolves in just about any organic solvent, not just acetone. Acetone is found in some nail polish removers.

If you can't find this product, you could dissolve styrofoam in gasoline just as easily.

It's best to do this project outdoors because acetone, gasoline, and other organic solvents tend to be toxic when inhaled.

Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Chemistry Expert

Education

Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College

Introduction

Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville - Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Science educator with experience teaching chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels.

ThoughtCo and About Education chemistry expert since 2001.

Widely-published graphic artist, responsible for printable periodic tables and other illustrations used in science.

Experience

Anne Helmenstine, Ph.D. has covered chemistry for ThoughtCo and About Education since 2001, and other sciences since 2013. She taught chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels. She has worked as a research scientist and also abstracting and indexing diverse scientific literature for the Department of Energy.

In addition to her work as a science writer, Dr. Helmenstine currently serves as a scientific consultant, specializing in problems requiring an interdisciplinary approach. Previously, she worked as a research scientist and college professor. 

Education

Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a B.A. in physics and mathematics with a minor in chemistry from Hastings College. In her doctoral work, Dr. Helmenstine developed ultra-sensitive chemical detection and medical diagnostic tests.

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https://www.thoughtco.com/dissolving-styrofoam-in-acetone-608924