Answer to Question #194207 in Organic Chemistry for marianna

Question

Explain why alcohols are soluble in water but hydrocarbons of the same size are not soluble in water. For example butanol is soluble but butane is not. Draw a diagram to aid in your explanation. (3 C)

Alcohols form H-bonds with wate

Answer 1

As alcohol is a polar solvent . It form Hydrogen Bond with water molecules while other hydrocarbons of comparable molecular masses does not form Hydrogen Bond due to being non - polar . Hence Alcohol is more soluble in water.