What else dissolves 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.

Will vinegar dissolve Styrofoam?

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.

Will turpentine dissolve Styrofoam?

Styrofoam, a lightweight plastic used for packing materials and thermal insulation, dissolves in turpentine because the two substances have compatible molecular properties. Liquids dissolve solids when the forces holding the solid molecules together is less than the attraction between the liquids and solids.

How does acetone break down Styrofoam?

Styrofoam dissolves in acetone in a similar way to how sugar dissolves in water. It is a physical rather than a chemical reaction. The air in the foam leaves, and because Styrofoam consists mainly of air, when it dissolves in acetone it completely loses its structure.

Would a coffee cup dissolve in acetone?

Acetone is a great solvent for this particular plastic, so when the cup is placed in acetone—or when you put a few drops of acetone in the cup—the small amount of plastic present in the cup dissolves and the cup rapidly disintegrates.”

Is it safe to dissolve Styrofoam 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.

What is the difference between isopropyl alcohol and acetone?

The key difference between acetone and isopropyl alcohol is that acetone has a C=O. bond in the middle of the chemical structure, whereas isopropyl alcohol has a C-OH group in the middle of the chemical structure.

How do you turn Styrofoam into glue?

Place a Styrofoam item into the acetone bath and gently press down on it. It will immediately dissolve into a gooey liquid.