Chemistry of Nail Products Flashcards
6 cards from real Nail Technician practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Chemistry of Nail Products flashcards as text
In the context of acrylic nails, what is the primary function of a monomer?
Answer: To act as a building block that forms polymer chains.
A monomer is a single molecule that chemically binds with other molecules to form long chains called polymers. In an acrylic nail system, the liquid monomer (primarily ethyl methacrylate) reacts with the polymer powder to create the durable acrylic enhancement.
A client's gel polish is cured under an LED lamp. Which ingredient in the gel polish absorbs the light energy to start the hardening process?
Answer: Photoinitiator
Photoinitiators are molecules within gel polish that absorb the UV/LED light energy. This absorption activates them, causing them to break down and start a chain reaction called polymerization, which links monomers and oligomers together to harden the gel.
What is the role of a plasticizer in traditional nail polish?
Answer: To add flexibility and prevent chipping.
Plasticizers are ingredients added to nail polish to increase its flexibility and durability. They prevent the polish film from becoming brittle and cracking, thus reducing chipping and extending the life of the manicure.
A nail technician applies a non-acid primer to a client's natural nails before an acrylic service. How does this type of primer primarily improve adhesion?
Answer: By acting like double-sided tape, bonding to the nail and the acrylic.
Acid-free primers work by leaving a sticky residue on the nail plate after the solvent evaporates. This residue functions like double-sided sticky tape, creating a strong adhesive bond between the natural nail and the acrylic enhancement product that will be applied on top.
The chemical reaction that links monomers and oligomers together to form the long chains that create a durable nail enhancement is called:
Answer: Polymerization
Polymerization is the process where relatively small molecules, called monomers, combine chemically to produce a very large chainlike or network molecule, called a polymer. This is the fundamental process for curing both acrylic and gel nail enhancements.
In nail enhancements, what is the function of a cross-linking monomer?
Answer: It forms a three-dimensional network for increased strength.
Cross-linkers are monomers with multiple reactive sites ('arms') that can connect different polymer chains together. This creates a strong, net-like or three-dimensional structure, resulting in a nail enhancement that is much stronger and more durable than one made of simple, linear polymer chains.