Question

Why can ionic table salt and covalent rubbing alcohol both dissolve in water?

Alcohol's polar bonds and salt's ions have higher potential energy than the potential energy of the hydrogen bonding between water molecules.
Alcohol's polar bonds and salt's ions are both able to form strong attractions to the polar water molecules.
The temperature of liquid water is high enough to allow anything to mix well with its fast-moving molecules.
The air pressure above the water is greater than the pressure exerted by the moving water molecules.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: Alcohol's polar bonds and salt's ions are both able to form strong attractions to the polar water molecules.

Water is a polar molecule, meaning it has a partial positive charge on one end (the hydrogen atoms) and a partial negative charge on the other end (the oxygen atom). This polarity allows water molecules to form hydrogen bonds with other polar molecules or ions.

In the case of salt (sodium chloride), the sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-) are attracted to the partial charges on the water molecules. The positive sodium ions are attracted to the negative oxygen atoms of water, while the negative chloride ions are attracted to the positive hydrogen atoms of water. These strong attractions between the ions and water molecules allow salt to dissolve in water.

Similarly, rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) has polar bonds due to the presence of oxygen and hydrogen atoms. These polar bonds allow alcohol molecules to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. The oxygen atom in alcohol can form hydrogen bonds with the hydrogen atoms of water, while the hydrogen atoms in alcohol can form hydrogen bonds with the oxygen atom of water. These hydrogen bonds between alcohol and water molecules enable alcohol to dissolve in water.

In summary, both salt and alcohol can dissolve in water because their respective ions and polar bonds are able to form strong attractions to the polar water molecules.