Sodium chloride is appreciably soluble in methanol but essentially insoluble in hexane
CHEMISTRY · Single correct · AP · Chemistry · Properties of Substances and Mixtures · Properties of Substances and Mixtures
Problem
Sodium chloride is appreciably soluble in methanol but essentially insoluble in hexane. Which of the following statements best explains this observation?
(a) Methanol can hydrogen-bond with the ions in NaCl, and these hydrogen bonds are stronger than the ionic bonds, whereas hexane cannot hydrogen-bond.
(b) Methanol molecules form strong ion–dipole interactions with Na+ and Cl− ions, whereas hexane molecules cannot.
(c) The lattice energy of NaCl is reduced in methanol because methanol has a higher dielectric constant, but it remains high in hexane.
(d) Methanol forms stronger London dispersion forces with NaCl than hexane does, enabling NaCl to dissolve in methanol but not in hexane.