Question

Arrange the following compounds in order of increasing solubility in water and explain your sequence: C7H15OH, C6H13OH, C6H6, C2H5OH

Answer 1

C6H6 < C7H15OH < C6H13OH < C2H5OH

Step-by-step explanation:

Hello,

In this case, since the organic molecules solubility is defined in terms of the presence of hydrogen bonds as intermolecular forces, which are formed between oxygen and hydrogen and the length of the organic chain, we can notice that hydroxyl-containing longer chains tend to be less water soluble whereas shorter chains more soluble as the polar part of the chain will lead the solubility. In addition to it, chains with lack of oxygen tend to be highly water insoluble. Therefore, we can notice that C6H6 is the least water soluble, next C7H15OH, then C6H13OH and the most soluble is C2H5OH.

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