Which is more soluble in water: HCl or ethyl chloride?

Probably HCl

To determine which compound is more soluble in water, we need to consider the nature of the compounds and their interactions with water molecules.

HCl (hydrochloric acid) is a strong acid consisting of a hydrogen atom bonded to a chlorine atom. It readily dissociates in water, forming H+ ions and Cl- ions, leading to a high solubility in water.

Ethyl chloride (C2H5Cl), on the other hand, is an organic compound known as a chloroalkane. It is not a strong acid or base, and its solubility in water is primarily determined by its polarity. Ethyl chloride has a relatively low polarity due to the presence of the alkyl group (C2H5) which is nonpolar.

Water is a highly polar molecule due to its bent geometry and the electronegativity difference between oxygen and hydrogen. Polar substances tend to dissolve in polar solvents like water, while nonpolar substances tend to dissolve in nonpolar solvents.

Since HCl is a highly polar compound, it can interact favorably with water molecules through the formation of hydrogen bonds. This increases its solubility in water compared to ethyl chloride.

Therefore, HCl has higher solubility in water than ethyl chloride.