Solvents and solubilityEdexcel International A Level Chemistry: Flashcards

What these 13 flashcards ask

What must be true for a solute to dissolve in a solvent?
What is hydration?
How do water molecules attract Na⁺ and Cl⁻?
Why is NaCl insoluble in hexane?
Why do simple alcohols dissolve in water?
What feature of ethanol allows hydrogen bonding with water?
Why are halogenoalkanes poorly soluble in water?
Is 1-chlorobutane polar?
Why are alkanes insoluble in water?
What is a non-aqueous solvent?
Which type of solvent dissolves non-polar compounds?
Why does octane dissolve in hexane?
What is meant by miscible?

Exam questions on Solvents and solubility

Sodium chloride is a white ionic solid. It dissolves readily in water but is insoluble in hexane, C₆H₁₄, which is a non-polar liquid.
Explain how water dissolves sodium chloride.2 marks
Ethanol, CH₃CH₂OH, mixes completely with water. 1-Chlorobutane, CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂Cl, is a polar liquid but is only very slightly soluble in water.
Explain, in terms of intermolecular forces, why ethanol mixes completely with water.2 marks
A technician is choosing solvents. Water is a polar liquid whose molecules are held together by hydrogen bonds. Hexane is a non-polar liquid whose molecules are held together only by London forces. 1-Bromobutane, CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂Br, is a polar molecule that cannot form hydrogen bonds.
Explain why 1-bromobutane is only slightly soluble in water.3 marks

Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).