Question

Which one of the following substances would be the least soluble in CCl4?

(a) I2
(b) Na2SO4
(c) HI
(d) C2H6
(e) CH3CH2OH

Answer 1

Na2SO4

Step-by-step explanation:

Chemistry operates on the principle of 'like dissolved like'. This implies that polar solvents dissolve polar substances while nonpolar solvents dissolve nonpolar substances.

This is because, dissolution of a substance in a solvent is as a result of intermolecular interaction between solute and solvent.

Since Na2SO4 is purely an ionic substance and CCl4 is purely a nonpolar solvent, Na2SO4 is least soluble in CCl4.