Question

Why do we feel a cold sensation if we put nail polish remover on our skin?

• A. Acetone melts on our hand.
• B. Acetone freezes on our hand surface.
• C. Acetone starts boiling taking heat from the hand.
• D. Acetone evaporates rapidly, leaving a cooling sensation.

Answer 1

The correct option is D Acetone evaporates rapidly, leaving a cooling sensation.

Evaporation causes cooling. The particles of a substance while evaporating absorbs heat energy from its surroundings and convert into vapour. Acetone has a low boiling point of ${56}^{\circ }\text{C}$. So, when we put acetone on our hand or skin, being highly volatile, it evaporates rapidly absorbing heat from the hand and leaving back a cold sensation. Therefore, we feel cold.