Final answer:
To rank from most to least soluble in water, it goes magnesium chloride, 1-hexanol, ethane, and lastly propane, based on their polarities and the ability to form hydrogen bonds or ion-dipole interactions with water.
Step-by-step explanation:
The solubility of substances in water can be predicted based on their chemical structure and the principle of 'like dissolves like.' This means that polar substances generally dissolve well in polar solvents like water, while nonpolar substances are better dissolved in nonpolar solvents.
- Magnesium chloride (MgCl2) - As an ionic compound, it is highly soluble in water, which is a polar solvent.
- 1-hexanol (C6H13OH) - The hydroxyl group (-OH) makes it capable of hydrogen bonding with water molecules, making it moderately soluble.
- Propane (C3H8) and ethane (C2H6) - Both are nonpolar hydrocarbons and have very low solubility in water. However, propane, being larger, is slightly less soluble than ethane due to the increase in the nonpolar surface area, which hinders solvation.