Ask A Scientist© Chemistry Archive

name         Samin
status       student
age          16

Question -   I am doing a chemistry project, and i need to know what
effect acetone has on ink, and the removal of ink on a wooden surface.
What happens, chemically, when acetone and ink combine, and what is in
acetone, or what characteristic of acetone makes it useful to remove
almost anything from a smooth surface, such as wood. Thank you for your time.
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Acetone is one of the better solvents in the chemist's arsenal. It is polar,
soluble in water in all proportions, and soluble in many organic solvents as
well. As a result it is a good solvent for the organic polymers used in
paints and inks. The polymer is the large molecule that ties the ink or
paint together in a coherent film. Dissolve the polymeric "glue" holding the
coating together and the other things just wash away.

It will dissolve most inks, and dissolve or at least soften most paints --
depending on the type. To illustrate its power dip a piece of polystyrene foam cup
into a glass beaker and observe what happens. Don't pour acetone into the
polystyrene foam cup or you'll have a mess.

Caution: Acetone is volatile and very, almost explosively flammable. Use
only in good ventilation and keep away from flames or other sources of
ignition, even static electricity has been known it ignite acetone vapor.

Vince Calder
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