Polystyrene
Polystyrene is a synthetic aromatic hydrocarbon polymer made from the monomer styrene. Polystyrene can be solid or foamed. General-purpose polystyrene is clear, hard, and rather brittle. It is an inexpensive resin per unit weight. It is a rather poor barrier to oxygen and water vapo…
What happens when you melt styrofoam with gasoline?
Feb 24, 2020 · Yes. The resulting, sticky and gelatinous material, is effectively home made “napalm”. It can be be made by dissolving pieces of Styrofoam in gasoline or diesel fuel to form a flammable jelly-like substance. A modern version, napalm-B, …
What happens when you mix styrofoam and acetone?
Feb 08, 2022 · 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. What can gasoline dissolve? Gasoline.
What solvent will dissolve styrofoam?
Why does styrofoam dissolve in gasoline? 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.
Can you dissolve polystyrene in gasoline?
We heard that styrofoam melts in gasoline and, when we tried it, it worked surprisingly well. After tons of styrofoam was melted and we had our pyromaniacal pleasure out of the way, I was still left wondering whystyrofoam and whygasoline (petrol). So, close to 7 years later, I …
What happens when you mix styrofoam and gasoline?
Yes. The resulting, sticky and gelatinous material, is effectively home made “napalm”. It can be be made by dissolving pieces of Styrofoam in gasoline or diesel fuel to form a flammable jelly-like substance.
Does Styrofoam react with gasoline?
Styrofoam vs. Home-Made Napalm can be made by mixing Styrofoam with Gasoline until the gasoline will not absorb any more.
Does motor oil dissolve Styrofoam?
It explains why oil (nonpolar) separates from water (polar), yet salt (polar) dissolves in water. Or how fingernail polish remover (nonpolar), removes fingernail polish (nonpolar) from nails. It is also why oil dissolves Styrofoam. Both are nonpolar compounds.
Is napalm made from Styrofoam?
Napalm is a mixture of flammable petroleum thickened with unique soaps. It is simply a mixture of Styrofoam insulation or packing peanuts and gasoline. The result of this mixture is a sticky substance called Napalm.
Why does Styrofoam dissolve in gas?
Styrofoam is a trade name for polystyrene (PS) foams. PS readily dissolves in many various kinds of organic substances, such as, but not limited to, acetone, MEK, THF, benzine, hexane, and hexene, plus heavier hydrocarbons. Gasoline is a mix of hydrocarbons, so it dissolves PS, producing a viscose paste.
How do you dissolve 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.
What can gasoline dissolve?
Gasoline. Gasoline contains many different nonpolar substances, such as hexane, heptane and octane. Gasoline effectively dissolves oils and even grease. Hexane, isolated from other gasoline components, serves as a solvent for vegetable oils, such as peanut oil and soybean oil.
Why does gasoline break down Styrofoam?
When you mix Styrofoam (extruded polystyrene) with gasoline or acetone, the Styrofoam breaks down. Styrofoam is a chemical of petroleum base that is fluffed up like cool whip, when it dissolves in gasoline it changes back to a liquid. All the air inside escapes, and it becomes a wet, gooey mess.
Is there a good use for the good you get from putting Styrofoam in gasoline?
Yes, there are good uses for PS concentrated solutions. It is a good adhesive/glue for bonding different materials. BUT, safety issues is a major concern. Both gasoline (and all other PS solvents, like acetone, MEK, THF, etc.)
What can I use to dissolve 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.
Is acetone and Styrofoam dangerous?
When it comes in contact with acetone, the polystyrene chains fall apart. However, the acetone doesn’t actually dissolve the styrene molecules. Please don’t rush out and try to do this on your own, as acetone is dangerous and also not the right chemical to do this properly.
Can civilians own napalm?
The Defense Department phased out incendiary weapons around the same time the United Nations banned the use of flamethrowers and napalm against civilians. The liquids used — gasoline, diesel fuel or napalm — are extremely flammable and could cause explosions if they leaked while the devices were in use.
Why are lasers banned in war?
Serious disability is equivalent to visual acuity of less than 20/200 vision. Laser weapons which are designed, as their sole combat function or as one of their combat functions, to cause permanent blindness or to diminish vision (i.e. to the naked eye or to the eye with corrective eyesight devices) are prohibited.
What happens when you put gasoline on Styrofoam?
Q: “Will gasoline dissolve Styrofoam?” Styrofoam is a trade name for polystyrene (PS) foams. PS readily dissolves in many various kinds of organic substances, such as, but not limited to, acetone, MEK, THF, benzine, hexane, and hexene, plus heavier hydrocarbons. Gasoline is a mix of hydrocarbons, so it dissolves PS, producing a viscose paste.
What happens when you mix styrofoam with gasoline?
When you mix Styrofoam (extruded polystyrene) with gasoline, the Styrofoam breaks down. All the air inside escapes, and it becomes a wet, gooey mess. If left out to dry, it gets hard again, but not like before, without the air - it resembels plastic. I have a few questions about this.
What is gasoline made of?
Gasoline is made up of an assortment of simple aliphatic hydrocarbons such as ethane and isobutane, and some aromatic hydrocarbons added as enhancers, as their break-up generates more energy. When you drop polystyrene into gasoline; the high energy bonds in the aromatic chain break in favour of simpler single covalent bonds.
What is the end effect of polystyrene?
The end effect is that the mass of polystyrene breaks apart releasing the trapped air, and forms into a mass of new hydrocarbon chains, which forms some fort of amorphous solid, a slimy film of the Ethane-styrene bonded chains and gasoline.
Is styrofoam harmful to the environment?
53,966. Breaking down styrofoam chemically is not environmentally friendly at all, and it may be injurious to your health. It releases styrene, which is toxic. The best environmentally friendly way to break down this material is to grind it up and use it as a filler for garden soil. spidergoat, Aug 24, 2007.
What happens when you mix styrofoam with gasoline?
When you mix Styrofoam (extruded polystyrene) with gasoline or acetone, the Styrofoam breaks down. Styrofoam is a chemical of petroleum base that is fluffed up like cool whip, when it dissolves in gasoline it changes back to a liquid. All the air inside escapes, and it becomes a wet, gooey mess.
What is styrofoam made of?
Styrofoam is made from a common plastic called polystyrene and it mixed with air. It can be formed into all kinds of useful things while it is a goo. It can be molded and formed. While it is a goo is it is very sticky and can be used as a glue or sealant. It takes very little of the gasoline or other liquid to “melt” the styrofoam.
What is gasoline made of?
Gasoline is made up of an assortment of simple aliphatic hydrocarbons such as ethane and isobutane, and some aromatic hydrocarbons added as enhancers, as their break-up generates more energy. When you drop polystyrene into gasoline; the high energy bonds in the aromatic chain break in favour of simpler single covalent bonds.
What happens if you let acetone evaporate?
If you let the acetone evaporate, it will leave a clump of solid polystyrene behind. Acetone will make a almost clear plastic when dried. Gasoline – The same gasoline you put in your car will dissolve styrofoam, though it will not dissolve some other plastics, such as polyethylene.
How long does it take for goo to become solid?
While a goo it is very flammable and is very similar to napalm. It can take a few days for the goo to become solid again. The liquid must evaporate. It can be used to seal small roof holes and seal cracks. When you mix Styrofoam (extruded polystyrene) with gasoline or acetone, the Styrofoam breaks down. Styrofoam is a chemical of petroleum base ...
What is the end effect of polystyrene?
The end effect is that the mass of polystyrene breaks apart releasing the trapped air, and forms into a mass of new hydrocarbon chains, which forms some fort of amorphous solid, a slimy film of the Ethane-styrene bonded chains and gasoline.
How much styrofoam is thrown away in California?
In california people throw away 300,000 tons of styrofoam every year. Considering how little styrofoam weights the volume of the waste is staggering.