Chem experiment. Objectives: - To see if there are other solvents possible that can replace thinner (as it is quite harmful) while maintaining the dissolution effect of same strength on expanded polystyrene.

Possible solvents needed to be tried out:

Isoamyl acetate (banana oil)

Artificial esters( including vanilla, strawberry and coconut favor)

Part 2: In order to find out the main constituent component of thinner that is responsible for the dissolution of expanded polystyrene, we put the expanded polystyrene into different main components of thinner of equal amount to observe which main component is the primary cause for dissolution of expanded polystyrene.

The main components of thinner are as follows:

Acetone

Butan-1-ol

Ethyl ethanoate

Apparatus :

Beakers

Stirrer

Measuring cylinders

Experimental procedure:

Step 1: Measure the volume of solvents needed using measuring cylinder

Step 2: Pour different kinds of possible solvents into different beakers.

Step 3: Use expanded lunch boxes as the source of expanded polystyrene and tear it into smaller pieces so that they are small enough to be put into the beakers.

Step 4: Stir the mixture and observe if any reactions occur.

P.S: Repeat the same procedure for part 2 (except for Step 1, different main components of thinner should be poured into the beakers instead.)

Observation & Results :

Part 1:

1. Acetone:

After putting the plastic in 50mL solution of acetone, the foam did not disappear but the plastic were softened and while soft substances remained. Also, on adding more acetone, the substance merged together suddenly.

Besides, the reaction was endothermic as cold mist was formed on the wall of the beaker.

After some time, the mixture solidified.

2. Butan-1-ol

After putting the plastic in 50mL solution of Butan-1-ol, there was no significant effect that can be observed.

3. Ethyl ethanoate

After putting the plastic in 50mL solution of ethyl ethanoate, foam was observed and the plastic was dissolved completely. It has a very similar reaction as thinner does.

Part 2:

a) Isoamyl acetate (banana oil)

After putting the plastic in 50mL solution of Isoamyl acetate, there was no significant effect that can be observed.

b) Artificial esters

After putting the plastic in 50mL solution of respective esters, there was also no significant effect that can be observed in all solution of different esters.

Conclusion:

There are no other solvents possible that can replace thinner so far. Yet, it was found that ethyl ethanoate is the main component of thinner that is responsible for the dissolution of expanded polystyrene.