Styrofoam Magic

Andrea FigueroaElena Porras

Ma. Renée Puertas.

About Polystyrene

•Polystyrene (Styrofoam) is an aromatic polymer; polymer is a mixture of compounds that is formed by polymerization; polymerization is the chemical reaction produced by monomer styrene molecules to form polymer.

Dissolving polystyrene

•Polystyrene is dissolved in organic solvents, these solvents release the air in the foamed polystyrene.

Polystyrene in the environment

•It is very slow to biodegrade, so it pollutes the environment. It is abundant in the form of litter in the environment, along shores and waterways especially in its foam form.

About Gasoline

•Gasoline is a mixture of hydrocarbons that is sometimes mixed with other additives such as ethanol to increase the octane rating.

Organic solvents

•Organic solvents are carbon-based substances that are capable of dissolving another substance. •Many classes of chemicals can be used as organic solvents, such as hydrocarbons.

Gasoline as a solvent

•Gasoline is an organic solvent because it dissolves materials that are insoluble or nearly insoluble in water. If polystyrene is only dissolved by organic compounds, shouldn´t it dissolve in gasoline?

Research question

•Is there a way to help people improve their house quality by clogging holes in the roof, and at the same time reduce pollution in the environment using used Styrofoam?

HypothesisIf polystyrene (Styrofoam) is dissolved by organic solvents, and gasoline is an organic solvent, then polystyrene should start becoming a very sticky paste because polystyrene is made up of polymer chains, whose bounds are dissolved by organic compounds such as gasoline. This solution can be used to clog holes in different materials and reduce the amount of Styrofoam trash in the environment.

Materials:

Materials: • Pail • Gasoline • Styrofoam • Water

For security: • Lab coat• Laboratory lenses • Gloves • Ponytail

Procedure:

Put water into a pail.

Procedure

Add gasoline until it covers all the surface of the

water.

Procedure

By and by add Styrofoam.

Procedure

Wait until the Styrofoam dissolves.

Procedure

Take out the paste and put it where you want it. You can put it in a plastic bag for

later use.

Results•The result is a paste that hardens in less than 24 hours in normal conditions.•It isn´t flammable, so it isn´t dangerous.•This paste is resilient to water.

How it helps Community?•In Guatemala there are a lot of poor people and their houses are poorly constructed. They face many leaking problems during the rainy season, this material will help them keep their houses dry, improving their health.

Picture from: “Prensa Libre”

Other uses for this product

•This paste can also be used to

clog holes in pipes and paste things that are made of rock, ceramic and

metal.

Conclusion•There is a solution for the leaking problem that poor people in Guatemala have during the rainy season. This solution is this paste, that can clog holes in the roof and other places.

Bibliography• Haynes, William M., ed. (2011). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and

Physics (92nd ed.). CRC Press.• Library 4 science,

http://www.chromatography-online.org/topics/gasoline/components.html

• Centers of disease control and prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/organsolv/

• The free dictionary, by Farlex: http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Organic+solvents

• About.com Chemistry: http://chemistry.about.com/od/polymers/a/Dissolve-Styrofoam-In-Acetone.htm