Answer to Question #105824 in Organic Chemistry for Hala

Question

Consider the following organic compounds:

ethane C2H6 (CH3CH3)
ethanol C2H6O (CH3CH2OH)
ethanoic acid C2H4O2 (CH3COOH)
methoxymethane C2H6O (CH3OCH3)
octane C8H18
octan-1-ol C8H18O

Of the four compounds containing two carbons, which is the most soluble in water? Explain your reasoning using intermolecular forces in your answer.

Answer 1

water is a polar solvent. That means that polar molecules will be well dissolved in it. Also water can form hydrogen bonds with other molecules, these molecules will be much better dissolved in water in comparison with only polar molecules.

ethane C2H6 - nonpolar molecule - will be very badly dissolved in water

methoxymethane CH3OCH3 - polar molecule. Will form dipole-dipole interactions with water molecules. Will be dissolved in water

Both ethanol and ethanoic acid are polar molecules and also can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. They will be the most dissolved out of four substances given.

But because ethanoic acid is higher polar than ethanol it's solubility in water is greater than that of ethanol.

1.Polarity order in organic compounds:

Amide > Acid > Alcohol > Ketone ~ Aldehyde > Amine > Ester > Ether > Alkane

Answer: ethanoic acid