Multiple Choice
In which of the following solutions is sodium acetate (NaCH3COO) most soluble?
6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions
Solubility Rules
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Which of the following explains why salt (NaCl) dissolves in water?
A
Salt has a higher density than water, causing it to dissolve.
B
Salt molecules are smaller than water molecules, making it easy for them to dissolve.
C
The ionic bonds in salt are broken by the polar water molecules, allowing the ions to disperse.
D
Salt is nonpolar and water is polar, allowing them to mix easily.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that dissolving involves the interaction between solute and solvent molecules. In this case, salt (NaCl) is the solute and water (H₂O) is the solvent.
Recognize that NaCl is an ionic compound composed of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions held together by ionic bonds.
Water is a polar molecule, meaning it has a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom.
The polar nature of water allows it to interact with the charged ions in NaCl. The partially negative oxygen atoms in water molecules are attracted to the Na⁺ ions, while the partially positive hydrogen atoms are attracted to the Cl⁻ ions.
These interactions between water molecules and the ions in NaCl weaken the ionic bonds, allowing the ions to separate and disperse throughout the water, resulting in the dissolution of salt.
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