Purpose of Chemistry Nitrocellulose is very flammable. Also, it holds together other substances in the nail polish. Ethyl Acetate is used as a solvent in chemical processes. Nail Polish turns from a liquid to a solid when the ethyl acetate evaporates when exposed to air.
Chemical Formula and Meaning The ethyl acetate formula is C6H12O2. The nitrocellulose formula is C6H7O2(OH)3. Butyl acetate has 6 atoms of Carbon, 12 atoms of Hydrogen, and 2 atoms of Oxygen. Nitrocellulose has 6 atoms of Carbon, 10 atoms of Hydrogen, and 5 atoms of Oxygen. What Causes Nail Polish to Dry? Once in the air, the solvent (ethyl acetate) evaporates and the liquid becomes a solid. If a solvent is added back to it, it will become a liquid again. The more solvents the nail polish has the less time it takes to dry.
Reflection:
What girl doesn't love a fresh mani and pedi? I know I love a fresh mani and pedi, and it is rare that you see me without my fingers and toes painted. While researching how chemsitry is linked to nail polish, I found out some quite disturbing stuff. Did you know that nail polish can be harmful? That is not something I wanted to read but I kept reading more because I was curious as to what could be so harmful.
According to yahoo, researchers discovered that two to six hours after women had painted their nails, 24 out of the 26 women in the study had slightly elevated levels of a form of triphenyl phosphated called diphenyl phosphate in their urine. But ten to 14 hours after they polished their nails, the DPHP levels of all 26 participants had risen by an average of nearly sevenfold suggesting that more of the TPHP had entered their bodies and been metabolized into DPHP. TPHP is a known plasticizer.
Good news for mani and pedi lovers like myself, they do make non-toxic nail polish. I for one will be checking my nail polish ingredients the next time I get a mani and pedi because I don't want any chemicals entering my body that don't belong there.