Is dimethyl ether a polar molecule?
between dimethyl ether and ethyl alcohol, which molecule is expected to be more soluble in water? explain.
well..for the solubility question.
I say that ethyl alcohol is more soluble in water because of it's ability to have hydrogen bonding
and I thought that the dipoles of the C-O would cancel out but according to Wiki it is not, so I learned something while answering your question.
Dimethyl ether has a dipole moment but it is less polar than water and ethanol. Ethanol is miscible in all proportions with water. Dimethyl ether dissolves (328 g/100 mL) readily but not in all proportions. The more polar bonds of ethanol and the ability to form hydrogen bond gives ethanol the enhanced solubility.
To determine if dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3) is a polar molecule, you need to consider the molecular geometry and the polarity of its bonds.
Dimethyl ether has a tetrahedral shape with the oxygen atom in the center and the two methyl groups (CH3) on either side. The oxygen atom is more electronegative than the carbon and hydrogen atoms, meaning it attracts electrons more strongly. This leads to a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom and partial positive charges on the carbon and hydrogen atoms.
Since the molecule has a bent shape and contains polar bonds, it is overall considered a polar molecule. The partial negative charge on the oxygen atom and the partial positive charges on the carbon and hydrogen atoms create a dipole moment in the molecule.
Now, to determine which molecule, dimethyl ether or ethyl alcohol (CH3CH2OH), is more soluble in water, we need to consider the polarity of the molecules and the nature of the water molecule.
Water is a highly polar molecule due to its bent shape and the electronegativity difference between oxygen and hydrogen atoms. It forms hydrogen bonds with other polar molecules, making it a good solvent for polar substances.
Comparing dimethyl ether and ethyl alcohol, both molecules have an oxygen atom, which increases their polarity. However, ethyl alcohol has an additional hydroxyl group (OH) attached to the carbon chain. This hydroxyl group significantly enhances the polarity of the molecule.
Due to the presence of the hydroxyl group, ethyl alcohol has stronger intermolecular forces, specifically hydrogen bonding, than dimethyl ether. This makes ethyl alcohol more soluble in water compared to dimethyl ether. The hydroxyl group in ethyl alcohol can interact with the water molecules through hydrogen bonding, promoting dissolution.
In summary, dimethyl ether is a polar molecule, but ethyl alcohol is more soluble in water because of its stronger intermolecular forces, mainly due to the hydroxyl group, enhancing its interaction with water molecules.