considering the polarity of each compound and that of a solvent in which it is dissolved (including the potential for hydrogen bonding), give a brief explanation of each result:
a) biphenyl in hexane
- which is also soluble
b) biphenyl in methyl alcohol
- which is more soluble
please help.... i don't know how explain the reactions other then the solubilities
In order to explain the solubilities of biphenyl in hexane and methyl alcohol, we need to consider the polarity of the compounds and the solvents involved.
a) Biphenyl in hexane:
Hexane is a nonpolar solvent and biphenyl is also a nonpolar compound. Nonpolar substances tend to dissolve better in nonpolar solvents. Hexane molecules do not have any polar groups or hydrogen bonding capabilities. Since biphenyl is nonpolar and does not have any hydrogen bonding groups, it can dissolve relatively well in hexane.
b) Biphenyl in methyl alcohol:
Methyl alcohol, or methanol, is a polar solvent. Biphenyl is a nonpolar compound and does not have any polar functional groups for hydrogen bonding. However, despite the nonpolar nature of biphenyl, it can still dissolve to some extent in polar solvents due to the short-range weak attractive forces known as London dispersion forces.
In the case of methyl alcohol, it has both polar functional groups (the -OH group) and hydrogen bonding capabilities. These properties allow it to form hydrogen bonds with other polar molecules. Although biphenyl does not have polar groups, the hydrogen bonding capability of methyl alcohol allows it to form some weak interactions with the solvent molecules. As a result, biphenyl can dissolve more readily in methyl alcohol compared to hexane.
In summary, biphenyl is soluble in both hexane and methyl alcohol, but it is more soluble in methyl alcohol due to the polar nature and hydrogen bonding capabilities of methyl alcohol.
To explain the solubilities of biphenyl in hexane and methyl alcohol, we need to consider the polarity of each compound and the polarity of the solvent in which it is dissolved.
a) Biphenyl in hexane:
Hexane is a nonpolar solvent, meaning it has a low polarity. Biphenyl, being a nonpolar compound, has a similar polarity to hexane. Nonpolar compounds are generally soluble in nonpolar solvents. Since both the solvent (hexane) and the compound (biphenyl) have similar polarity, they can mix well, resulting in biphenyl being soluble in hexane.
b) Biphenyl in methyl alcohol:
Methyl alcohol, also known as methanol, is a polar solvent. It has a high polarity due to the presence of the hydroxyl (-OH) functional group. Biphenyl, on the other hand, is a nonpolar compound. When a polar compound is dissolved in a polar solvent, like in this case, it is typically more soluble compared to when it is dissolved in a nonpolar solvent. The polar interactions between the hydroxyl groups of methyl alcohol and the nonpolar compound biphenyl allow for better solvation, resulting in a higher solubility of biphenyl in methyl alcohol compared to hexane.
In summary, biphenyl is soluble in both hexane and methyl alcohol. However, it is more soluble in methyl alcohol because the polar interactions between biphenyl and the polar solvent, methyl alcohol, facilitate its dissolution.