Final answer:
Methanol is a nonelectrolyte as it does not form ions in water but dissolves due to its polar nature; it remains a neutral molecule in solution and does not conduct electricity.
Step-by-step explanation:
There is evidence that methanol (CH3OH) can dissolve in water due to its polar nature, primarily because of its OH (hydroxyl) group. However, methanol does not form ions in water but remains as neutral molecules, which means it does not conduct electricity. Therefore, methanol is considered to be a nonelectrolyte when dissolved in water, as it does not dissociate into ions that would allow it to conduct an electrical current.
Molecular compounds like methanol, which are not acids or bases, will not become electrolytes because they do not release ions in solution. For example, while hydrogen chloride (HCl) is a nonelectrolyte in its pure state, it becomes a strong electrolyte when dissolved in water because it completely ionizes into hydrogen and chloride ions. In contrast, methanol remains as a neutral molecule in solution and does not exhibit such behavior.