Basing your answer on intermolecular force considerations, explain what "like dissolves like" means.

Short Answer

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'Like dissolves like' means substances with similar chemical properties (polar or non-polar) tend to dissolve each other. This is based on intermolecular forces, where polar solvents dissolve polar solutes and non-polar solvents dissolve non-polar solutes due to the strength of intermolecular attractions.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the concept of 'like dissolves like'

'Like dissolves like' is an expression used in chemistry which means that substances with similar chemical properties tend to dissolve each other. Essentially, polar solvents dissolve polar solutes, and non-polar solvents dissolve non-polar solutes.
02

Define Polar and Non-Polar substances

Polar substances are those that have regions with slight positive and slight negative charges due to unequal sharing of electrons in a molecule, such as water (\(H_2O\)). Non-polar substances are those that do not have these charges due to equal sharing of electrons, like oil.
03

Explain the role of intermolecular forces

Intermolecular forces refer to the forces of attraction between different molecules. In the context of 'like dissolves like', polar solvents can dissolve polar solutes because the intermolecular forces of attraction between the polar molecules are stronger. The same reasoning applies to non-polar solvents and non-polar solutes. Hence, 'like dissolves like' is based on these considerations of intermolecular forces.

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