Question

Benzophenone and piperidine consist mostly of carbon atoms, with only one heteroatom oxygen or nitrogen) each. Yet, they show very different solubility in water. Provide two reasons why there is a difference in solubility

Answer 1

Benzophenone and piperidine have different solubility in water due to hydrogen bonding and differences in resonance and aromaticity.

Step-by-step explanation:

There are two main reasons why benzophenone and piperidine show different solubility in water:

1. Hydrogen bonding: Benzophenone can form hydrogen bonds with water due to the presence of an oxygen atom. This increases its solubility in water. On the other hand, piperidine does not have a hydrogen bonding group and cannot form strong interactions with water, leading to lower solubility.
2. Resonance and aromaticity: Benzophenone is an aromatic compound, which means it has a stable and delocalized system of pi electrons. This stability allows it to dissolve better in polar solvents like water. Piperidine lacks this aromaticity, and therefore, it has lower solubility in water.