This is looks like a chemical reaction but it's not - it's really just a physical change. It's a really neat trick you can do for your friends or in a magic show. Here's how it works:
Supplies:
- acetone
- pie pan (or other shallow baking dish)
- Styrofoam cup
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You can use styrofoam beads, packing peanuts, styrofoam packing materials, or even a styrofoam cup and place it in your glass jar containing acetone. Styrofoam is made up of polystyrene foam, which is mostly air (that's why foam is so lightweight). When you add the foam cup to the acetone, you're removing the air in the foam which makes it look like you're dissolving this huge amount of cups (you can go through a whole stack with only a cup of acetone).
Why does this work? You are removing the structure that supports the shape of the foam, and are left with only the foam molecules at the bottom of the container (it will look like a blob). Think about a camping tent: when you take away the poles, what happens to the tent? It loses its support structure and collapses down. The same thing is happening to the foam when you place it in the acetone - you are removing the structure that holds the shape. Acetone is found in most nail polish removers.
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You can throw it away in your outside trash. The acetone will evaporate.
Hi! Just wondering how do we dispose of these materials after the experiment? Thanks 🙂
The supplies are now provided above the video. You need acetone, a pie pan or other shallow baking dish, and a Styrofoam cup.
question, where is the supplies list?
I’ll have Tonya connect with you right away!
Good evening,
My daughter wants to do the Disappearing Foam Cup activity. It’s listed under 5th grade Chemisty. We keep getting a note that says it’s advanced content and we can’t access it because it’s 9th-12th. However, it’s in the 5th grade section. Please advise. Here is a copy/paste of the whole note:
“This is looks like a chemical reaction but it’s not – it’s really just a physical change. It’s a really neat trick you can do for your friends or in a magic show. Here’s how it works:
–> This section contains advanced content.
Unfortunately it looks like you don`t currently have access to it
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