Question

Select the appropriate solvents from the table to dissolve ethylene glycol (polar; contains an OH group)

1: toluene
2: acetone
3: methanol
4: water
5: carbon tetrachloride
6: hexane
7: ethanol

Answer 1

The appropriate solvents to dissolve ethylene glycol are methanol, water, and ethanol.

Step-by-step explanation:

The appropriate solvents to dissolve ethylene glycol are methanol, water, and ethanol.

Ethylene glycol is a polar molecule that contains an OH group. Solvents that are polar, like methanol, water, and ethanol, can dissolve ethylene glycol by forming hydrogen bonds with the OH group. These solvents have a partial positive charge on their hydrogen atoms, which can attract the negative charge on the oxygen atom in the ethylene glycol molecule. Toluene, carbon tetrachloride, hexane, and acetone are nonpolar solvents and cannot dissolve ethylene glycol because they cannot form hydrogen bonds with the OH group.