You get a cooling effect when acetone is placed on your nails. Why is placing acetone on your nails an endothermic process?

Question

A.
Heat from the body is absorbed by acetone as it evaporates.
B.
Heat is released into the body by acetone as it evaporates.
C.
Acetone has a lower temperature than the surroundings.
D.
The temperature of the surroundings is greater than acetone.
E.
There is no exchange of energy between acetone and the surroundings.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

A. Heat from the body is absorbed by acetone as it evaporates.

When acetone is applied to your nails, it begins to evaporate. This evaporation process requires energy, which it draws from the surrounding environment—including your skin—resulting in a cooling effect. Since the acetone absorbs heat from your skin while it evaporates, it creates an endothermic reaction, leading to that cool sensation.