in which solvent is best suited to dissolve non-polar substances, water,ethanol or hexane
Water is polar. Ethanol is polar. Hexane is non-polar. Like dissolves like.
Hexane is the best solvent for dissolving non-polar substances.
To determine which solvent is best suited to dissolve non-polar substances, we need to consider the polarity of the solvents being compared. Non-polar substances are typically soluble in non-polar solvents. Let's analyze each of the solvents you mentioned: water, ethanol, and hexane.
1. Water: Water is a polar solvent. It has a high polarity due to the presence of hydrogen bonding, which makes it great at dissolving polar substances such as salts, sugars, and other polar organic compounds. However, water is not as effective at dissolving non-polar substances because the polar water molecules are less attracted to non-polar substances.
2. Ethanol: Ethanol is also a polar solvent that can dissolve many polar substances, but it is less polar than water. However, compared to water, ethanol is slightly more effective at dissolving non-polar substances due to its lower polarity. Ethanol can dissolve some non-polar substances, but it may not be as effective as a truly non-polar solvent.
3. Hexane: Hexane is a non-polar solvent, which means it has no significant polarity. Therefore, it is excellent at dissolving non-polar substances. Non-polar substances such as oils, fats, waxes, and many organic compounds are highly soluble in hexane. Hexane is often used in various laboratory procedures to dissolve non-polar compounds.
Considering the above information, it can be concluded that hexane is the best solvent out of the three options for dissolving non-polar substances.