Wouldn't this generate some particularly nasty gases? I've forgotten most of my chemistry, so I wouldn't know how to figure it out myself, but I was wondering whether some of you might know.
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
I don't know the chemistry, but I did it once as a demonstration intended for kindergarteners, so I don't imagine it could be all that dangerous.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Its not going to release anything nasty, it a simple solution process, no chemical reactions. The only gas that is released is the gas that is trapped in bubbles in the styrofoam.
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
We did this in chemistry class. We wore goggles because that was standard procedure in any lab activity, but there were no fumes and we could handle all of the ingredients and the remaining sludge with our bare hands (of course, the gals with nail polish were a little upset at that one LOL). The best part was sliming the chalkboard and glass cabinet fronts with the resulting goop, and then comparing what the goop did to those surfaces over a different periods of time. I don't think the janitorial staff was too happy at that, though, especially when the goop ate through the writing surface of the chalkboard.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
It would have been the acetone in the goop that ate through the chalk board. It would have done that with or without the styrofoam dissolved in it. Acetone's pretty volatile so it would have evaporated after a couple of days leaving behind a hard, brittle plastic resin.
Posted by Lisa (Member # 8384) on :
Cool. Thanks.
Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
I got nail polish remover on my glasses once when I was little. The lens very slowly chipped away over time. After that I was only allowed to use acetone free nail polish remover.