this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago (2 children)

We whipped up a batch of improvised napalm with a bunch of kerosene and a styrofoam cooler

Kerosene doesn't dissolve styrofoam. You're thinking of gasoline.

[–] FishFace@piefed.social 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Kerosene is still a non-polar solvent, why wouldn't it dissolve styrofoam?

[–] CatAssTrophy@safest.space 2 points 1 day ago

Somewhat, but not nearly as quickly or to the extent of something like gasoline, acetone or even d-limonene/orange oil (which is what I use to dissolve styrofoam packaging for repurposing, because it smells the best and is less flammable).

This video is someone dissolving polystyrene in kerosene, and as you can see it is a very slow process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1yDdIanTEA

[–] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

I was a kid at the time, but I'm pretty sure we used kerosene. It was red.