Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A drop of acetone, , and a drop of water of the same mass are put on the back of a hand. The acetone is gone in seconds; the water takes several minutes. To evaporate, acetone needs and water needs .
Evaporation cools: the fastest particles leave, and the liquid takes the heat it needs from its surroundings, . At skin temperature each gram of sweat takes about . Power is heat divided by time, and .
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. (a) Acetone. , so .
Step 2. (a) Water. .
Step 3. (b) The acetone takes its in a few seconds, so the skin loses heat very fast and feels cold. The water takes its slowly, over minutes, and the blood warms the skin again as it goes.
Answer: (a) and . (b) Acetone takes its heat much faster.
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