Asked in Chemistry, Office Supplies
Chemistry
Office Supplies
Why does isopropyl alcohol work to remove sharpie stains?
Answer
Wiki User
12/02/2011
isopropanol/Ispropyl (or called rubbing alcohol) is a solvent that has polar molecules (molecules with a positive charged molecule that sticks to a negative charged molecule).
If you sniff a sharpie, it has a sharp, alcohol smell, right? Sharpies have n-propanol alcohol, n-butanol, and diacetone alcohol in them. They have pretty similar structures to rubbing alcohol. All alcohol have polar molecules.
There is a "like dissolve like" rule. This means Polar solvent+Polar solvent=dissolve/removal. OR non-polar solvent+nonpolar solvent=dissolve/removal.
The closer the types of molecule and chemical make-ups are, the more likely they are to dissolve or be removed.
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