Final answer:
The solubility of compounds like glucose and sucrose in water is due to their polar nature and ability to form hydrogen bonds, making them hydrophilic. Cyclohexane and benzene, being nonpolar, do not mix well with water and are hydrophobic. The primary factor in their solubility is not molecular mass, but the similarity of intermolecular forces between the solute and solvent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The solubility of substances such as glucose, sucrose, cyclohexane, and benzene in water can be explained largely by considering intermolecular interactions. These interactions include polar vs. nonpolar characteristic of molecules, hydrogen bonding, and solvent-solute interaction.
Both glucose and sucrose are soluble in water because of their polar nature; they have regions of hydrogen-oxygen polar bonds and can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. This makes them hydrophilic or 'water-loving.' However, cyclohexane and benzene are nonpolar compounds composed mainly of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The lack of polar bonds and hydrogen bonding capability with water makes them hydrophobic or 'water-fearing,' so they are less soluble in water.
Molecular mass typically does not play a significant role in solubility when comparing molecules of similar size. Instead, the key factor for solubility is whether the solute and solvent share similar intermolecular forces, leading to the general rule that 'like dissolves like.