Which solute would be water soluble?
I2
CCI4
CH4
CH3CI
CH3CI (methyl chloride) would be water soluble.
Out of the given solutes, the only one that is water soluble is CH3CI (also known as methyl chloride).
To determine which solute would be water soluble, we need to consider the nature of the solute molecules and the intermolecular forces involved. In general, solutes that are polar tend to be water soluble, while solutes that are nonpolar tend to be water insoluble. Water is a highly polar molecule due to its bent shape and the presence of polar O-H bonds.
Let's analyze each solute in your list:
1. I2 (diatomic iodine): Iodine is a nonpolar molecule because it consists of two iodine atoms sharing a covalent bond. As a result, I2 is not water soluble because the intermolecular forces between I2 and water (which are hydrogen bonds) are not strong enough to overcome the attraction between the I2 molecules.
2. CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride): Carbon tetrachloride is a nonpolar molecule. It consists of a central carbon atom bonded to four chlorine atoms, and the molecule is symmetrical. As a result, CCl4 is not water soluble because it lacks the polarity required to form favorable interactions with water molecules.
3. CH4 (methane): Methane is a nonpolar molecule. It consists of a carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms, and the molecule is symmetrical. Like CCl4, CH4 is also not water soluble due to its nonpolar nature.
4. CH3Cl (chloromethane): Chloromethane is a polar molecule. It contains a polar C-Cl bond, which causes an imbalance in electron distribution and therefore the formation of a partial positive charge on the carbon atom and a partial negative charge on the chlorine atom. This polarity allows chloromethane to form favorable interactions with water molecules, making it water soluble.
In summary, I2, CCl4, and CH4 are not water soluble because they are nonpolar molecules, while CH3Cl is water soluble because it is a polar molecule.