Chemical Forums

Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: omega 3 on May 25, 2008, 02:40:00 PM

Title: How EPA or DHA interacts with styrofoam?
Post by: omega 3 on May 25, 2008, 02:40:00 PM

This is an observation, I look for the explanation with organic chemistry respect.  the phenomena is following :  if you release the fish oil (containing 450 mg EPA and 150 mg DHA )from one capsule into a styrofoam cup with water, the fish oil floats on the water surface, after around 10 minutes, the wall of the styrofoam cup touching with fish oil is destroyed, the water leaks.   Can some one explain this course of chemical reaction? thanks.
omega 3

Title: Re: How EPA or DHA interacts with styrofoam?
Post by: omega 3 on May 25, 2008, 05:58:27 PM

styrofoam is made of polystyrene, the component of fish oil is polyunsaturated fatty acid, so these two organic component may react?

Title: Re: How EPA or DHA interacts with styrofoam?
Post by: Borek on May 25, 2008, 06:26:55 PM

I have a gut feeling that there is no reaction as such, rather styrofoam gets dissolved in fat, or is wetted by fat and subsequently compacted - but I can be wrong