Question

nh2cl is highly soluble in water, whereas ncl3 is nearly insoluble. explain this observation in terms of the types and relative strengths of the intermolecular forces between each of the solutes and water.

Answer 1

NH2Cl is highly soluble due to its polarity and ability to form hydrogen bonds with water, whereas NCl3's lack of polarity and weak London dispersion forces lead to its near-insolubility.

Step-by-step explanation:

The solubility of substances in water can be explained by analyzing the types and relative strengths of intermolecular forces involved. NH2Cl, chloramine, exhibits significant polarity and can form hydrogen bonds with water, hence it is highly soluble. NCl3, nitrogen trichloride, on the other hand, is largely nonpolar and lacks the ability to form such strong interactions with water, leading to it being nearly insoluble.

In terms of the dissolution process, for NH2Cl, there is a strong attraction (ion-dipole interaction) between the polar molecules of NH2Cl and the polar water molecules, which helps to overcome the energy required to separate individual NH2Cl molecules (often referred to with the term ∆H2), leading to a negative ∆H3 and high solubility. For NCl3, the lack of polarity means that the London dispersion forces present are too weak to effectively counteract the energy required to separate the solute molecules, thus making it nearly insoluble in water.