Final answer:
Marcus should mix polymer powder with a monomer liquid, typically ethyl methacrylate, to perform addition polymerization for nail enhancements. Nail technicians should be aware of the health risks from chemicals like DBP, toluene, and formaldehyde in nail products and should be properly trained and certified.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marcus, a cosmetology student, is learning about nail enhancements and needs to know what to mix with polymer powder to create them. In this context, the process is related to addition polymerization, which is a chemical process where monomers are added to a growing polymer chain without the loss of any molecule. To make a nail enhancement, a monomer liquid is commonly mixed with the polymer powder. Typically, this liquid is an acrylic monomer like ethyl methacrylate (EMA). When these two are combined, they form a malleable bead that can be shaped and then hardened on the nail.
Applying this within a professional setting, nail technicians should be aware of the health risks of the chemicals they are using. Nail products contain toxic chemicals such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, and formaldehyde, which can pose health risks. Therefore, appropriate training and certification for nail technicians are crucial to ensure safe practices.