Final answer:
Polar compounds dissolve in polar solvents due to intermolecular interactions, while nonpolar compounds do not dissolve in polar solvents.
Step-by-step explanation:
The solubility of compounds in solvents depends on the intermolecular interactions between the solvent and solute.
Polar compounds dissolve in polar solvents, such as water, because of the dipole-dipole interactions and ion-dipole interactions.
Nonpolar compounds, on the other hand, do not dissolve in polar solvents because the intermolecular forces are not strong enough to overcome the attractions between nonpolar molecules.
For example, nonpolar molecules such as oil are attracted to themselves more than to the polar water molecules.
As a result, when oil is mixed with water, two separate layers form because the nonpolar molecules do not dissolve into the polar water.
In summary, the dissolving ability of a solute in a solvent is determined by the nature and strength of the intermolecular forces between the solute and solvent.