Which of the following in each pair is likely to be more soluble in hexane, C₆H₁₄: b. benzene (C₆H₆) or glycerol, CH₂(OH)CH(OH)CH₂OH,

Key Concepts

Solubility and Like Dissolves Like

The principle of 'like dissolves like' states that polar solvents tend to dissolve polar solutes, while nonpolar solvents dissolve nonpolar solutes. Hexane (C6H14) is a nonpolar solvent, so it is more likely to dissolve substances that are also nonpolar, such as benzene (C6H6), rather than polar substances like glycerol, which contains multiple hydroxyl (OH) groups.

Polarity of Molecules

Polarity refers to the distribution of electrical charge over the atoms in a molecule. Molecules with significant differences in electronegativity between atoms, such as those containing O-H bonds, are polar. Glycerol is polar due to its hydroxyl groups, while benzene is nonpolar due to its symmetrical structure and lack of electronegative atoms, affecting their solubility in hexane.

Hydrogen Bonding

Hydrogen bonding is a strong type of dipole-dipole interaction that occurs between molecules containing hydrogen atoms bonded to highly electronegative atoms like oxygen or nitrogen. Glycerol can form hydrogen bonds due to its hydroxyl groups, making it less soluble in nonpolar solvents like hexane, while benzene, lacking such interactions, is more compatible with hexane.