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Chapter 12: Problem 59

Some alcohols are quite soluble in water. For example, isopropyl alcohol, shown below, is sold as an aqueous solution we call rubbing alcohol. Show how a water molecule would be attracted to isopropyl alcohol, and name the strongest intermolecular force involved. Would you call this interaction hydration?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The water molecule is attracted to the isopropyl alcohol molecule due to the partially positive hydrogen atoms in water being attracted to the partially negative oxygen atom in isopropyl alcohol and vice versa. The strongest intermolecular force involved is hydrogen bonding, which is a type of dipole-dipole interaction. The interaction between isopropyl alcohol and water can be called hydration, as water molecules surround the isopropyl alcohol molecules, forming hydrogen bonds.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the molecules

Isopropyl alcohol (C3H8O) is an organic compound that consists of three carbon atoms, eight hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom. The structure can be represented as CH3-CHOH-CH3 (based on the description of the question ipa). Water (H2O) is an inorganic molecule that contains an oxygen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms.
02

Identify the polarity of the molecules

The oxygen atom in a water molecule is highly electronegative, which means it attracts the electrons in the bond closer to itself. As a result, water is a polar molecule with partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom. In isopropyl alcohol, the oxygen atom is also highly electronegative, and there is a polar bond formed between the oxygen and the hydrogen atom in the alcohol group. The rest of the molecule is largely nonpolar due to hydrocarbons. As a result, isopropyl alcohol as a whole is polar, but with a lower polarity compared to a water molecule.
03

Identify the intermolecular forces involved

In the interaction between water and isopropyl alcohol, the partially positive hydrogen atoms of water are attracted to the partially negative oxygen atom of isopropyl alcohol. Likewise, the partially positive hydrogen atom in the alcohol group of isopropyl alcohol is attracted to the partially negative oxygen atom of water. These interactions can be categorized as hydrogen bonding, which is the strongest type of dipole-dipole interaction between the molecules.
04

Determine whether the interaction can be called hydration

Hydration occurs when polar solvent molecules, like water, surround solute molecules or ions due to their attractions. In this case, the water molecules surround the isopropyl alcohol molecules, forming hydrogen bonds. Since this process involves the surrounding of the isopropyl alcohol molecules by water molecules, it can indeed be classified as hydration. In conclusion, the interaction between isopropyl alcohol and water is due to hydrogen bonding, which is the strongest intermolecular force involved. This interaction can also be called hydration.

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