Question
Methanol is soluble in water but insoluble in octane. Explain briefly.
Solution
Answer:
Methanol and water both are polar and hydrogen bond forming molecules. Thus, they will form homogeneous solution. Whereas octane is non-polar molecule and will not form solution with methanol.
Solubility of a substance is its maximum amount that can be dissolved in a specified amount of solvent at a specified temperature. It depends
upon the nature of solute and solvent as well as temperature and pressure. In general, a solute dissolves in a solvent if the intermolecular interactions are similar in the two or we may say like dissolves like.
Methanol and water both are polar and hydrogen bond forming molecules. Thus, they will form homogeneous solution. Whereas octane is non-polar molecule and will not form solution with methanol.
