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Ch.13 - Properties of Solutions
Chapter 13, Problem 111

The following table presents the solubilities of several gases in water at 25 °C under a total pressure of gas and water vapor of 1 atm. (b) The solubilities (in water) of the hydrocarbons are as follows: methane 6, ethane 6, and ethylene. Is this because ethylene is the most polar molecule? Gas Solubility (mM) CH4 (methane) 1.3 C2H6 (ethane) 1.8 C2H4 (ethylene) 4.7 N2 0.6 O2 1.2 NO 1.9 H2S 99 SO2 1476 (c) What intermolecular interactions can these hydrocarbons have with water? Gas Solubility (mM) CH4 (methane) 1.3 C2H6 (ethane) 1.8 C2H4 (ethylene) 4.7 N2 0.6 O2 1.2 NO 1.9 H2S 99 SO2 1476 (e) Explain why NO is more soluble in water than either N2 or O2. Gas Solubility (mM) CH4 (methane) 1.3 C2H6 (ethane) 1.8 C2H4 (ethylene) 4.7 N2 0.6 O2 1.2 NO 1.9 H2S 99 SO2 1476 (f) H2S is more water-soluble than almost all the other gases in the table. What intermolecular forces is H2S likely to have with water? Gas Solubility (mM) CH4 (methane) 1.3 C2H6 (ethane) 1.8 C2H4 (ethylene) 4.7 N2 0.6 O2 1.2 NO 1.9 H2S 99 SO2 1476 (g) SO2 is by far the most water-soluble gas in the table. What intermolecular forces is SO2 likely to have with water? Gas Solubility (mM) CH4 (methane) 1.3 C2H6 (ethane) 1.8 C2H4 (ethylene) 4.7 N2 0.6 O2 1.2 NO 1.9 H2S 99 SO2 1476

Verified step by step guidance
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Step 1: Analyze the solubility data for hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, ethylene) and consider their molecular structures. Note that ethylene (C2H4) has a higher solubility than methane (CH4) and ethane (C2H6).
Step 2: Consider the polarity of the hydrocarbons. Ethylene has a double bond which can introduce some degree of polarity compared to the single bonds in methane and ethane, but overall, hydrocarbons are generally nonpolar.
Step 3: Examine the intermolecular interactions between hydrocarbons and water. Hydrocarbons are nonpolar and interact with water primarily through weak London dispersion forces, as water is polar and forms hydrogen bonds.
Step 4: Compare the solubility of NO, N2, and O2. Note that NO is more soluble than N2 and O2. Consider the molecular structure and polarity of NO, which has a polar bond due to the difference in electronegativity between nitrogen and oxygen.
Step 5: Investigate the intermolecular forces for H2S and SO2 with water. H2S can form hydrogen bonds with water due to its polar H-S bonds, while SO2, being a polar molecule with a bent shape, can engage in dipole-dipole interactions and possibly hydrogen bonding with water.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Polarity and Solubility

Polarity refers to the distribution of electrical charge over the atoms in a molecule. Polar molecules, which have a significant difference in electronegativity between their atoms, tend to dissolve well in polar solvents like water due to favorable interactions. In contrast, nonpolar molecules do not interact favorably with water, leading to lower solubility. Understanding the polarity of hydrocarbons like methane, ethane, and ethylene is crucial for explaining their solubility in water.
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Intermolecular Forces

Intermolecular forces are the forces of attraction or repulsion between molecules. These include hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole interactions, and London dispersion forces. The strength and type of these forces significantly influence the solubility of gases in water. For example, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) can form hydrogen bonds with water, enhancing its solubility compared to nonpolar gases like nitrogen (N2).
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Henry's Law

Henry's Law states that the amount of gas that dissolves in a liquid at a given temperature is directly proportional to the partial pressure of that gas above the liquid. This principle helps explain the solubility of gases in water under varying conditions. For instance, the solubility of gases like nitric oxide (NO) can be understood in terms of its interactions with water and the pressure exerted by the gas, which influences how much of it can dissolve.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

A series of anions is shown below:

The anion on the far right is called 'BARF' by chemists, as its common abbreviation sounds similar to this word. (a) What is the central atom and the number of electronpair domains around the central atom in each of these anions?

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Textbook Question

A series of anions is shown below:

The anion on the far right is called 'BARF' by chemists, as its common abbreviation sounds similar to this word. (b) What is the electron-domain geometry around the central B in BARF?

Textbook Question

A series of anions is shown below: The anion on the far right is called 'BARF' by chemists, as its common abbreviation sounds similar to this word. (c) Which, if any, of these anions has an expanded octet around its central atom?

Textbook Question
A small cube of lithium 1density = 0.535 g/cm32 measuring 1.0 mm on each edge is added to 0.500 L of water. The following reaction occurs: 2 Li1s2 + 2 H2O1l2 ¡ 2 LiOH1aq2 + H21g2 What is the freezing point of the resulting solution, assuming that the reaction goes to completion?
Textbook Question

Compounds like sodium stearate, called 'surfactants' in general, can form structures known as micelles in water, once the solution concentration reaches the value known as the critical micelle concentration (cmc). Micelles contain dozens to hundreds of molecules. The cmc depends on the substance, the solvent, and the temperature. (a) The turbidity (the amount of light scattering) of solutions increases dramatically at the cmc. Suggest an explanation. .

Textbook Question
What is the boiling point of a 0.10 M solution of NaHSO4 if the solution has a density of 1.002 g>mL?
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