Question

In order to reduce the exposure to organic solvents like turpentine, some art instructors recommend the students clean brushes and hands with vegetable oil or mineral oil. Would such oils be more effective removing water-based paints or oil-based paints? EXPLAIN

Answer 1

Generally speaking, organic molecules tend to dissolve in solvents that have similar physical properties. A good rule of thumb is that "like dissolves like". Meaning, polar compounds can dissolve polar compounds and nonpolar compounds can dissolve nonpolar compounds.

To apply this to the current problem, we are told that the brushes are being cleaned with vegetable oil or mineral oil. In this case, the oils are used as solvents. In order for these solvents to be effective, the compounds they are trying to dissolve must be similar in structure and properties to other oils. Therefore, vegetable oil or mineral oil will be most effective in removing oil-based paints, as these will have the similar properties needed to dissolve in the oil solvents.