The white stuff that is left behind is still styrofoam, better known as polystyrene. Styrofoam is up to 95% trapped air, so when you put the styrofoam in an organic solvent, such as acetone, it releases the trapped air. The styrofoam residue that is left behind is a lattice work that crisscrossed itself in rigid form with the trapped air. Acetone is an organic solvent that is effective in dissolving styrofoam, plastics, glue, pine sap,...
The white stuff that is left behind is still styrofoam, better known as polystyrene. Styrofoam is up to 95% trapped air, so when you put the styrofoam in an organic solvent, such as acetone, it releases the trapped air. The styrofoam residue that is left behind is a lattice work that crisscrossed itself in rigid form with the trapped air. Acetone is an organic solvent that is effective in dissolving styrofoam, plastics, glue, pine sap, and many other things that have a glue-like, sticky residue. Acetone is the key ingredient in nail polish remover. Acetone has a strong odor and is extremely flammable. Care should be taken when conducting an experiment such as dissolving styrofoam in acetone. A well-ventilated area, outdoors, perhaps, would be best so as to avoid inhaling toxic fumes.
After dissolving your styrofoam (actually a trademark of the Dow Chemical Company), you can recycle it through a local polystyrene recycling agent. Since the air cells are broken down, making the styrofoam more compact, it is simpler to recycle. Since dissolving styrofoam in nail polish remover contaminates indoor air quality, it is not advisable to dissolve styrofoam just for recycling, but, if you have conducted a school experiment with acetone and styrofoam, you can recycle (you and your class) the melted polystyrene remaining, which gets more solidified as more acetone evaporates.
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