predict the solubility of 2-propanol in dichloromethane and in water.

Can someone explain how they came to their conclusion because I just don't understand how to determine solubility.

You didn't say what conclusions THEY came to.

Like dissolves like. Water is a polar solvent and contains OH group. 2-propanol contains OH group and the organic part is not overwhelming so it should be soluble in water. I would not expect much solubility in dichloromethane since it contains no OH groups and is not highly polar.

To predict the solubility of a substance in a specific solvent, there are several factors to consider. These include the nature of the solvent and the solute, as well as any intermolecular forces involved. In this case, we need to determine the solubility of 2-propanol in dichloromethane and in water.

1. Solubility in dichloromethane (CH2Cl2):
Dichloromethane is a polar aprotic solvent, meaning it has a partially positive and partially negative end, but it does not have any acidic or basic properties. On the other hand, 2-propanol is a polar protic substance, which means it has both acidic and basic properties.

Since both the solvent and the solute are polar, they have similar intermolecular forces, making it likely that they will be able to mix well. Therefore, 2-propanol is generally expected to be relatively soluble in dichloromethane.

2. Solubility in water (H2O):
Water is a polar solvent and forms hydrogen bonds with other polar molecules. 2-propanol is also polar and can form hydrogen bonds. Due to their similar polar nature and the ability of both compounds to form hydrogen bonds, 2-propanol is also expected to be soluble in water.

In summary, based on the similar polar nature and ability to form hydrogen bonds by both 2-propanol and the solvents, it can be predicted that 2-propanol will be soluble in both dichloromethane and water. However, keep in mind that the exact solubility can vary depending on temperature, concentration, and other factors.