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How would the solubility of hydrogen fluoride compare with the solubility of carbon tetrachloride?

A. Hydrogen fluoride is more soluble than carbon tetrachloride.

B. Carbon tetrachloride is more soluble than hydrogen fluoride.

C. Both hydrogen fluoride and carbon tetrachloride have similar solubilities.

D. Solubility cannot be determined from the information given.

User Iveth
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Final answer:

Hydrogen fluoride (HF) is more soluble in water than carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) because HF can form strong hydrogen bonds due to the high electronegativity of fluorine, which increases its solubility in polar solvents.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks how the solubility of hydrogen fluoride (HF) compares with that of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). To answer this, consider that solubility is influenced by the polarity of molecules and the type of intermolecular forces they can form. Hydrogen fluoride is capable of strong intermolecular forces known as hydrogen bonding due to the high electronegativity of fluorine and the hydrogen attached to it, which makes it more soluble in polar solvents like water. Carbon tetrachloride, on the other hand, is a nonpolar molecule because the symmetry of its structure cancels out any polarities in the bonds, making it relatively less soluble in water but more soluble in nonpolar solvents like hydrocarbons. Therefore, the answer is A. Hydrogen fluoride is more soluble than carbon tetrachloride in water.

User Jontro
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