Is benzil soluble in NaOH?
Looking at the structure of benzil it appears that it is.
To determine the solubility of benzil in NaOH (sodium hydroxide), you can consider the functional groups present in the benzil molecule. Benzil consists of two carbonyl groups (C=O) present on adjacent carbon atoms.
Sodium hydroxide is a strong base, and it can react with carbonyl groups via a nucleophilic addition reaction. When a strong base reacts with a carbonyl group, it forms a salt called a carboxylate ion. In the case of benzil, when sodium hydroxide reacts with the benzil molecule, it can form a sodium salt of benzil, known as a sodium benzilate.
The formation of a salt generally increases the solubility of a compound in water. Since NaOH can react with the carbonyl groups in benzil to form a soluble salt, it suggests that benzil is soluble in NaOH.
However, it is important to note that solubility can also depend on other factors such as temperature and concentration. The solubility of benzil in NaOH may vary depending on these factors.
To confirm the solubility of benzil in NaOH, you can perform a simple experiment. Dissolve a small amount of benzil in a solution of sodium hydroxide at room temperature and observe if it dissolves completely.