Final answer:
A hand feels colder after spilling nail varnish remover due to evaporative cooling, as the liquid evaporates it absorbs heat from the skin. Nail varnish removers usually contain ethyl acetate, which has a low boiling point and contributes to the cooling sensation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When nail varnish remover, which is a liquid with a low boiling point, is spilt on a hand, the hand feels colder than the other hand. This is due to evaporative cooling. The nail varnish remover absorbs heat energy from the skin as it evaporates, which causes a cooling sensation on the skin where the liquid was spilt. This is similar to why alcohol in a thermometer initially goes down when placed in a hot liquid - the alcohol expands due to the initial heat absorption causing it to contract slightly before expanding again as the temperature rises. Nail varnish removers often contain compounds such as ethyl acetate which, when it reacts with ethanol and acetic acid, forms water and the solvent ethyl acetate. The solvent is responsible for the odour of some nail polish removers and also plays a role in the cooling effect.