Styrofoam is a trademark name for  polystyrene thermal insulation.

Pure solid polystrene is a colorless, hard plastic with limited flexibility. Most of the time it is expanded with 90%- 95% polystrene and 5%-10% gaseous blowing agent with heat or steam.

We poured actone over a styrofoam cup. What happened to the polymer?

Is it a physical change?or…a chemical change?

Remember:

A chemical change is defined as changes substances under go when they become new or different substances.

 To identify a chemical change look for observable signs such as color change, bubbling and fizzing, light production, smoke, and the presence of heat.

A physical change occurs when objects undergo a change that does not change their chemical nature.

A physical change involves a change in physical properties, and can be observed without changing the type of matter.

To identify a physical change look for differences in texture, shape, size, color, odor, volume, mass, weight, and density.

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