Which of the following compounds would be most soluble in the solvent hexane (C6H14)

Which of the following compounds would be most soluble in the solvent hexane (C6H14)? a)pentanol, CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2OH b)ethanol, CH3CH2OH c)propanol, CH3CH2CH2OH d)methanol, CH3OH e)butanol, CH3CH2CH2CH2OH

Which of the following compounds would be most soluble in the solvent hexane (C₆H₁₄)?a)pentanol, CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂OH b)ethanol, CH₃CH₂OH c)propanol, CH₃CH₂CH₂OH d)methanol, CH₃OH e)butanol, CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂OH

The Correct Answer and Explanation is :

The most soluble compound in hexane (C6H14) would be pentanol (CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2OH).

Explanation:

Hexane is a nonpolar solvent. In general, “like dissolves like,” meaning that polar compounds tend to dissolve in polar solvents, and nonpolar compounds tend to dissolve in nonpolar solvents. However, when considering compounds like alcohols, solubility also depends on the size and nature of the molecule’s functional group and carbon chain.

• Hexane (C6H14) is a nonpolar hydrocarbon, and it is most compatible with nonpolar or slightly polar compounds.
• Alcohols contain a hydroxyl group (-OH), which is polar, but their solubility in nonpolar solvents like hexane is influenced by the length of their carbon chain.

Let’s break down each compound:

1. Pentanol (CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2OH): This alcohol has a relatively long hydrocarbon chain (five carbon atoms) and a polar -OH group. The long hydrocarbon chain dominates the interactions with the nonpolar hexane, making pentanol quite soluble in hexane.
2. Ethanol (CH3CH2OH): Ethanol has a two-carbon chain and an -OH group. The small size of the alkyl chain limits its ability to interact with the nonpolar solvent, making ethanol less soluble in hexane than pentanol.
3. Propanol (CH3CH2CH2OH): Similar to ethanol but with a slightly longer chain (three carbons), propanol has a stronger interaction with hexane than ethanol, but still not as strong as pentanol’s interaction.
4. Methanol (CH3OH): Methanol has the smallest carbon chain and a very polar -OH group. Its polarity makes it more likely to dissolve in polar solvents like water, not in nonpolar solvents like hexane.
5. Butanol (CH3CH2CH2CH2OH): Butanol, with four carbon atoms, is more soluble in hexane than shorter-chain alcohols but not as much as pentanol.

Thus, pentanol is the most soluble in hexane due to its relatively long nonpolar carbon chain that aligns well with hexane’s nonpolar nature.

Now, I will generate an image illustrating this solubility trend.

Here is the diagram showing the solubility of the five alcohols in hexane. As you can see, the longer the alcohol’s carbon chain (like pentanol), the more soluble it is in the nonpolar solvent hexane. Let me know if you’d like further explanations!