Drag the solute into the box that labels which solvent it will dissolve more easily within?
#" "" "" "color(white)(.)"CCl"_4" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" ""H"_2"O"#
#barul|stackrel(" ")(" "color(white)(stackrel(" ")("Place solute here"))" ")|" "" "" "" "barul|stackrel(" ")(" "color(white)(stackrel(" ")("Place solute here"))" ")|#
Sodium sulfide
Hexane
Iodine
Formaldehyde
Sodium sulfide
Hexane
Iodine
Formaldehyde
1 Answer
The idea is that a solute that has intermolecular forces more similar to those in a solvent are more likely to mix well. Therefore:
- Ionic compounds dissolve well in water, which can hydrogen-bond. Hydrogen-bonding interactions are generally close in strength to ion-pair interactions, which are present in ionic compounds.
Hence, it is a "good trade of energy" for ionic compounds to dissolve in water.
Think of it like trading things with someone else. You want a good deal when you trade, so you don't want to just hand over something valuable for something totally worthless in return.
- Nonpolar compounds like hydrocarbons dissolve well in nonpolar solvents, for the same reasons as above; successful solvation is dependent on a "good trade of energy".
Here's a hint:
SOLUTES
- Sodium sulfide is ionic.
- Hexane is nonpolar.
- Iodine is nonpolar.
- Formaldehyde is polar.
SOLVENTS
- Water hydrogen-bonds.
- Carbon tetrachloride is nonpolar.
Your final result should be an even distribution of answers; two on the left and two on the right.