With respect to their solubility in water, substances with nonpolar covalent bonds are______, while substances with polar covalent and ionic bonds are_______.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the types of bonds mentioned: nonpolar covalent, polar covalent, and ionic bonds.
2. Understand that solubility in water is influenced by the polarity of the substance.
3. Recall that water is a polar solvent, meaning it dissolves polar substances well due to the 'like dissolves like' principle.
4. Recognize that substances with nonpolar covalent bonds are generally hydrophobic and do not dissolve well in water.
5. Acknowledge that substances with polar covalent and ionic bonds are hydrophilic and tend to dissolve well in water.

Key Concepts

Polarity of Molecules

Polarity refers to the distribution of electrical charge over the atoms in a molecule. Nonpolar covalent bonds occur when electrons are shared equally between atoms, resulting in no significant charge difference. In contrast, polar covalent bonds involve unequal sharing of electrons, leading to partial positive and negative charges, which affects solubility in water.

Solubility Principles

Solubility is the ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent, such as water. The principle 'like dissolves like' indicates that polar substances tend to dissolve in polar solvents (like water), while nonpolar substances do not. This is due to the interactions between molecules; polar molecules form hydrogen bonds with water, while nonpolar molecules do not interact favorably with water.

Ionic vs. Covalent Bonds

Ionic bonds form between atoms that transfer electrons, resulting in charged ions that attract each other. These ionic compounds are typically soluble in water due to their ability to dissociate into ions, which interact with water molecules. In contrast, covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons, and the solubility of covalent compounds depends on their polarity, with nonpolar covalent compounds being generally insoluble in water.