Question

Which of the following substances is expected to be most soluble in water?

1) Salt (NaCl)
2) Sugar (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁)
3) Oil (C₆H₁₂O₆)
4) Alcohol (C₂H₅OH)

Answer 1

Salt (NaCl), its expecte to be most soluble in water among the given substances because it is an ionic compound. When salt is added to water, it dissociates into positively charged sodium ions (Na⁺) and negatively charged chloride ions (Cl⁻). Water molecules surround and interact with these ions, facilitating their separation and dispersal throughout the water, leading to high solubility.

Answer 2

Salt (NaCl) is expected to be the most soluble in water because it is an ionic compound and water is a polar solvent, promoting the dissociation of NaCl into ions that are surrounded by water molecules.

Step-by-step explanation:

The substance that is expected to be most soluble in water would be salt (NaCl). Water is a polar solvent, which means it has a partial positive and negative charge due to the difference in electronegativity between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Ionic compounds like NaCl dissolve well in polar solvents because the positive and negative ions are attracted to the polar water molecules, facilitating their dissociation into the solution. On the other hand, sugar (C12H22O11) is also soluble in water due to its many hydroxyl (OH) groups that can form hydrogen bonds with water, though not as much as salt. Alcohol (C2H5OH), with its one hydroxyl group, is less soluble than salt or sugar but still soluble in water. Oil (C6H12O6) is generally nonpolar and does not dissolve well in water.