Question

Some substances, such as oil and gasoline, will not dissolve in water because

a) they are organic compounds, while water is inorganic
b) they do not have any charges to which the water can adhere
c) their molecules are too large to mix and dissolve in the water
d) they do not ionize or dissociate when mixed into the water

Answer 1

Oil and gasoline do not dissolve in water because their molecules are too large and they have weak dispersion forces that are more attracted to themselves than to water. Like dissolves like, meaning substances with similar intermolecular forces can dissolve.

Step-by-step explanation:

Substances such as oil and gasoline do not dissolve in water because their molecules are too large to mix and dissolve in water. The attractive forces between the particles in nonpolar compounds are weak dispersion forces, and the nonpolar molecules are more attracted to themselves than to the polar water molecules.

This causes the liquids to separate into two layers when mixed. The general rule for dissolving substances is 'like dissolves like', meaning substances with similar intermolecular forces can dissolve in each other.