Chapter 13: Problem 26

Explain why gasoline is insoluble in water.

Short Answer

Expert verified

Gasoline is insoluble in water because of the difference in their molecular structures. Gasoline is nonpolar and hydrophobic whereas water is polar. Nonpolar substances do not dissolve in polar substances, therefore gasoline does not dissolve in water.

Step by step solution

Understanding Solubility

Solubility is the property of a solid, liquid, or gaseous chemical substance called solute to dissolve in a solid, liquid, or gaseous solvent. The solubility of a substance fundamentally depends on the properties of the solute and the solvent. This will be key in explaining our main problem.

Properties of Gasoline

Gasoline is composed mostly of hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are organic compounds consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. They are generally nonpolar due to the similar electronegativity of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Therefore, gasoline is hydrophobic or \'water-fearing\'.

Properties of Water

Water, on the other hand, is a polar solvent. It has regions of positive and negative charge due to the electronegativity differences between oxygen and hydrogen atoms. In water, molecules with charges tend to be solvable because they can interact with water's positive and negative charges.

Comparing Polarity and Nonpolarity

Nonpolar substances, like gasoline, do not dissolve in polar solvents like water because polar and nonpolar substances do not mix. The polarity of water molecules allows them to attract other polar and ionic substances, but not nonpolar substances like gasoline.

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Explain why gasoline is insoluble in water.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understanding Solubility

Properties of Gasoline

Properties of Water

Comparing Polarity and Nonpolarity

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