CH3OH is soluble in H₂O. In C5H₁2, this solute would be:
A) More soluble
B) Less soluble
C) Equally soluble
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B) Less soluble.
Explanation:
The solubility of a solute in a solvent is largely governed by the principle “like dissolves like,” which means that polar solutes tend to dissolve in polar solvents, and nonpolar solutes tend to dissolve in nonpolar solvents. This principle relies on the interactions between the solute and solvent molecules.
- Methanol (CH₃OH) and Water (H₂O):
Methanol (CH₃OH) is a polar molecule. It has an -OH (hydroxyl) group, which is capable of forming hydrogen bonds with water molecules. Water (H₂O) is also highly polar and can form hydrogen bonds due to its own -OH groups. This allows CH₃OH to dissolve well in water because both substances can interact through strong hydrogen bonding. - Cyclopentane (C₅H₁₂) and Water (H₂O):
Cyclopentane (C₅H₁₂) is a nonpolar molecule. It consists of a hydrocarbon chain, which lacks the ability to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. Water, being highly polar, does not interact well with nonpolar substances like cyclopentane. As a result, cyclopentane has very low solubility in water. The lack of polar interactions between cyclopentane and water leads to a weak solubility. - Comparison:
When comparing the solubility of CH₃OH in water and C₅H₁₂ in water, it is clear that CH₃OH is much more soluble in water than C₅H₁₂. The polar nature of CH₃OH allows for favorable interactions with water molecules, leading to a higher solubility. On the other hand, C₅H₁₂, being nonpolar, does not interact well with polar water molecules, making it significantly less soluble.
Thus, C₅H₁₂ is less soluble in water compared to CH₃OH. Therefore, the correct answer is B) Less soluble.