Indicate which is more soluble in ethanol? C2H5OH, acetic acid, CH3COOH, or stearic acid C17H35COOH.
Ethyl alcohol and acetic acid or fully miscible in water. Stearic acid is not soluble in water. I would not be able to predict if either ethyl alcohol or acetic acid is the more soluble since both are fully miscible with water.
To determine which compound is more soluble in ethanol, we need to compare their structures and properties. Generally, the solubility of a compound depends on its ability to form interactions with the solvent (ethanol) molecules.
In this case, we are comparing ethanol (C2H5OH), acetic acid (CH3COOH), and stearic acid (C17H35COOH).
Ethanol (C2H5OH) is a polar compound due to the presence of the hydroxyl group (-OH). It can form hydrogen bonds with water and other polar solvents. Acetic acid (CH3COOH) is also a polar compound and contains a carboxylic acid functional group (-COOH), which can participate in hydrogen bonding.
On the other hand, stearic acid (C17H35COOH) is a nonpolar compound. Long hydrocarbon chains of alkyl groups make it nonpolar. Nonpolar compounds tend to dissolve better in nonpolar solvents like hexane or carbon tetrachloride.
Based on the information about their structure and properties, we can conclude that acetic acid (CH3COOH) will be more soluble in ethanol (C2H5OH) compared to stearic acid (C17H35COOH).
Keep in mind that the solubility of a compound can also depend on factors such as temperature, pressure, and the specific conditions of the experiment.