When we put acetone on our palm, it feels cold because of evaporation. Acetone is a volatile liquid with a low boiling point (about 56°C/133°F), which means it evaporates quickly at room temperature.
During evaporation, acetone molecules with higher energy escape from the liquid into the air. This process requires energy, which is drawn from your skin in the form of heat. As our skin loses this thermal energy to the evaporating acetone, we experience a cooling sensation.
This cooling effect is more pronounced with acetone than with water because:
- Acetone evaporates much faster than water
- It has a lower heat of vaporization, allowing it to absorb heat from our skin more efficiently during the evaporation process
This same principle is why sweating cools us down and why alcohol wipes feel cold on our skin during medical procedures.
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