Acetone Volatility: Does it Leave Residue or Vanish?

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    Acetone Volatility
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the volatility of acetone, specifically whether it leaves any residue upon evaporation or completely vanishes. Participants explore the properties of different grades of acetone, its effects on skin, and the implications of impurities in acetone used for paint stripping.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether acetone evaporates without leaving any residue, sharing personal experiences with its rapid evaporation and lack of odor.
  • Another participant explains that reagent grade acetone is pure and expensive, while paint stripper acetone may vary in purity, potentially containing impurities like water.
  • Concerns are raised about the skin-defatting properties of acetone, with a participant noting that it can allow other chemicals to be absorbed through the skin.
  • A question is posed about the types of chemicals that can dissolve in acetone and their potential to penetrate the skin, along with how to assess their danger through Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
  • Participants discuss various solvents that could also penetrate the skin and highlight the importance of personal protection when handling such substances.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the purity of paint stripper acetone and its implications for residue and safety. There is no consensus on whether acetone leaves any residue or the extent of its effects on skin absorption.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the variability in acetone purity and the potential for impurities to affect its properties, but do not resolve the implications of these factors on safety or residue.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals working with solvents, particularly in contexts involving skin exposure and chemical safety, as well as those curious about the properties of acetone and its applications.

Mr_Bojingles
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When you pour some acetone on the ground and it evaporates does it leave any residue at all or does it vanish without a trace?

I love working with acetone because whenever I spill it on my hands I don't even have to wash them since it evaporates in a matter of seconds and doesn't even leave a smell on my hands.

Would I be right in assuming paint stripper acetone you buy in the hardware stores is relatively pure and evaporates without a trace when exposed to air?
 
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Reagent grade acetone is relatively pure and is relatively expensive. The expense comes from the testing, hermetic container and purification to specification of the material. Sources of acetone that are somewhat less pure or difficult to purify might find their way to the paint or solvent market, but that is not always the case. In the case of paint stripper acetone, you are buying the bottom of the barrel stuff. It could be pure one day and contaminated the next. If the impurity doesn't adversely affect the paint stripping property, no harm done. So, its a crap shoot when you use paint stripper acetone as to its purity. Often water is the major impurity.

One note... acetone will defat your skin and allow anything dissolved in it or anything on your hand to be absorbed right through your skin. You might get away with washing your hands in it without any problems but in the long term it is much more likely that something bad could happen. Yeah, cancer and stuff...

USE GLOVES! (and live a little longer)
 
I didn't know that skin defatting detail about acetone. Can "any" chemical dissolved in it seep through your pours? What would you look for in the MSDS to see if a chemicals dangerous when absorbed through the skin? Most MSDS's tell you if a chemicals dangerous when ingested but it's not really the same thing is it?
 
Well, anything that is water-soluble and is capable of removing paint is a good candidate. DMSO, THF, diethyl ether, chloroform, methylene chloride and other polar solvents would be likely as well. DMSO is a special case and is used in some transdermal medicaments. You are supposed to be able to taste DMSO in your mouth within seconds after rubbing some on your hand. Hummmm, garlicky! Some surfactants can do this to some degree. Any solvents that you can smell on your breath or body after exposure are suspect, of course.

Pay attention to personal protection...
 
Thanks for the heads up.
 

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