Answer
The dissolution of substances in each other is related to the relative strength of three intermolecular forces of attraction. You have to consider both the forces between the molecules of the solute and the molecules of the solvent; These must first be broken and then new forces must be formed between solute and solvent.
The three intermolecular forces that play a role are:
• London Vanderwaals Force
• Dipole-dipole attraction
• Hydrogen bridge formation
If the molecular bonds that are broken are about as strong as the molecular bonds that are formed, particles of solute will be able to mix with particles of solvent. In principle, therefore, particles only mix if they are similar: likes solve likes, or: kind seeks kind.
Thus, nonpolar substances dissolve well in nonpolar solvents and polar substances dissolve in polar solvents. Only molecular substances whose molecules can form hydrogen bonds dissolve in water.
Nonpolar Substances
Only the London-VanderWaals bond works between nonpolar molecules. It is very weak and works over a very short distance. It therefore often does not matter much whether we mix non-polar molecules of different shapes and/or sizes, the mutual interaction is approximately equal: non-polar substances dissolve in non-polar liquids. The solubility of nonpolar substances in polar liquids decreases the greater the difference in polarity.
Polar substances
If molecules have a dipole, there is also the extra dipole-dipole attraction
active. The cohesion between dipole molecules is therefore slightly stronger than between molecules
with only London-VanderWaals binding. The stronger the dipole of the molecules,
the solubility of polar substances in nonpolar liquids will decrease. There must then
stronger bonds are broken than are formed.
Water as a solvent
Water is a polar substance, but occupies a special place because of the unusually strong cohesion between the water molecules through the hydrogen bonds. Compensation for breaking this relatively strong intermolecular attraction is only possible if the molecules to be dissolved can also form hydrogen bonds themselves.
Non-polar substances therefore do not dissolve in water, for reasons described and explained above. Sometimes, however, small nonpolar molecules dissolve a little in water. This is possible if its molecules are so small that they fit here and there in the intermolecular spaces between the water molecules (eg O2, Cl2, CH4).
Polar substances often dissolve poorly in water if hydrogen bonds cannot be formed, even though their molecules have the same dipole strength as water molecules. A dipole alone does not provide sufficient compensation for the breaking of the hydrogen bonds.
Educational video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NobWmXysOdY&feature=youtu.be&rel=0
Answered by
Mrs. Celine Christiaens
Molecular Biology/Biology/Chemistry

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